Bobbie Joan Bedford-Ballard

Bobbie Joan Bedford-Ballard, age 80, of Oak Ridge, passed away Friday, Nov. 30, at Methodist Medical Center.

She was born April 6, 1932, in Florence, Ala., the daughter of Robert A. and Myrtle Perkins Murphy.

Mrs. Bedford-Ballard retired from the Oak Ridge school system. She was among the first generation of teachers at the new Linden Elementary school. She loved teaching and gained great respect within the teaching community as well as the community at large. In addition to teaching, she spent time tutoring children and working with Anderson County Head Start. She also worked as a text book editor for the Smithsonian.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by brother, Dewey Arnold Murphy.

She is survived by son, Jonathan David Bedford and wife Wendi, and daughter, Tamara Leigh Schlesinger, all of Oak Ridge; sister, Sue Cochran of Dyersburg; seven grandchildren, Aubrey Lynn Bedford of Nacogdoches, Texas, Mandi Russell of Kenner, La., Aaron Hill of Oak Ridge, Chris Schlesinger of New Jersey, and Charlene Schlesinger, Jason Schlesinger, and Joshua Schlesinger, all of Oak Ridge; and four great-grandchildren, Zelda and Kaidyn Bedford, and Carlos and Brandon Arostegui.

The family will receive friends Wednesday, Dec. 5, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Weatherford Mortuary. The funeral will follow at 8 p.m.

A graveside service will be held on Thursday at 10 a.m. at Oak Ridge Memorial Park.

An on-line guest book can be signed at www.weatherfordmortuary.com.