Obituary: George W. Oliphant

George Oliphant, age 91, went to be with his Savior Jesus Christ on Monday morning, May 12.

He was born in Riceville, Tenn., to Leona and J.R. Oliphant and was the second of four children.

He graduated from McMinn County High School, in Athens, Tenn., Class of 1941. George attended Tennessee Wesleyan Jr. College, where he played basketball and was class president. He joined the Army Air Corps in 1943, where he became an airplane pilot.

After the war’s end, he attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, earning his degree in electrical engineering in 1948. He was also senior class president and a Torchbearer.

George then went to work in Oak Ridge as an engineer in the Electrical Department at Y-12, where he ultimately became Electrical Department Head. Early in his career at Y-12, he earned his master’s degree in industrial management at UTK.

He married Christine Sparkman in 1951 in Oak Ridge at the Chapel on the Hill church. George and Chris were longtime members of Kern Memorial United Methodist Church, where they both served on the official board; he was lay leader and chairman of several capital building projects. George served as a volunteer in many community organizations, including coaching at the Oak Ridge Boys Club, board of directors at the Oak Ridge Methodist Medical Center, and a trustee at Tennessee Wesleyan College.

George served for 20 years in the U.S. Air Force Reserve, retiring as a lieutenant colonel, and also became director of plant and equipment at X-10 (ORNL) until his retirement in 1993. Afterwards, George and Chris served together in community service, continued to travel to number of countries as part of the United Methodist Church delegation to the World Methodist Conference, and spent time with family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Ross Millard and John David Oliphant; and his dear wife of almost 60 years.

He is survived by three sons and their spouses, David (Jeanette) of Greenville, S.C., Greg (Carolyn) of Kingsport, and Steve (Lisa) of Spartanburg, S.C. He and Chris had eight grandchildren: Aaron Oliphant (Laura), Jonathan Oliphant (Aimee), Amy Oliphant Carter (Josh), Leigh Ann Oliphant Miller (Clinton), Andrew Oliphant (Kayla), Patrick Oliphant, Reid Oliphant, and Grace Oliphant. He also leaves one great-grandson, Grayson Carter; two great-granddaughters, Annabelle Carter and Kathryn Oliphant; one sister, Dorothy (Dot) Oliphant Anderson of Cleveland, Tenn.; two nieces, Sally Oliphant Lowe and Beth Anderson Rowan; and three nephews, Jim Oliphant, John Oliphant, and Bill Anderson and their families.

Special thanks to George’s wonderful caregivers including Marie, Joy, Connie, Shelby, Jeannie, and others, and longtime family helper Mary Cook, all of whom helped him have a more comfortable life during the past several years.

The family will receive friends and relatives Friday, May 16, from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Kern Memorial United Methodist Church located at 451 East Tennessee Avenue. The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. at the church followed by interment at Oak Ridge Memorial Garden. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be sent to Tennessee Wesleyan College, Office of Advancement, 204 East College Street, Athens, TN 37303.

An online guest book may be signed at www.weatherfordmortuary.com.