James Bradley Mankin, Jr.

James Bradley Mankin Jr., age 79, of Oak Ridge, passed away Feb. 4.

He was born Oct. 10, 1933, in Chattanooga and was preceded in death by his parents, James Bradley Mankin and Myrtle Lacy Mankin; his sister, Georgella Mankin; and his son, James Bradley Mankin, III.

Survivors are his wife of 53 years, Anne Howell Mankin; daughters, Cynthia Leigh (Jeff) Chaloux of Knoxville and Pamela Jane Harvey of Oak Ridge; grandchildren, D. J. (Lynn) Harvey, Amanda (Brian) King, Brandon Harvey, Alex, Paige and Spencer Chaloux; seven great-grandchildren; and sister, Becky (Merle) Van Vleet. He also leaves several nieces and nephews.

Early years were spent near military bases in New Rochelle, N.Y., Lake Placid, N.Y., and McKenzie, Tenn., before moving to Knoxville, where he attended Bearden High School and played on their first football team. J.B. graduated from the University of Tennessee in electrical engineering, where he also earned his master’s and doctorate degrees.

After working for the Tennessee Valley Authority in Chattanooga and Knoxville, he worked at the Y-12 Plant as a development engineer. He also worked at the former K-25 Plant and Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the Computer Sciences Division as a computer applications specialist. He was a member of IEEE, co-authored many publications, and held a United States patent. He served in the United States Army Reserve attaining the rank of captain.

J.B. supported scouting activities with his son and served on committees with Troop 224. He enjoyed square dancing and performing with the Clogging Ridgers. Following his retirement in 1994, his hobbies included reading, art classes, woodcarving, and learning to play guitar and banjo at the Senior Center. For his entire life he continued the family tradition of being an avid UT sports fan.

He was instrumental in organizing the Great Smoky Mountain Emmaus Community, participated in KAIROS and Lock Down on the Outside prison ministries and went on short-term mission trips to Mexico and Costa Rica. He was a CONTACT Teleministries volunteer. He was a longtime member of Kern United Methodist Church, where he sang in the choir and was a Bible scholar. He more recently attended the New Life Church of the Nazarene.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday , Feb. 7, at Weatherford Mortuary in Oak Ridge. The funeral service will be held Friday, Feb. 8, at 1 p.m. at the New Life Church of the Nazarene, 200 Lafayette Drive, with Pastor Keith Robinson officiating. Burial will follow the service at Oak Ridge Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Jeff, Alex, and Spencer Chaloux, D.J. and Brandon Harvey, and Brian King.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the charity of your choice.