Kenneth Paul Hearn, Lieutenant Colonel, USAF (RTD), age 80, of Oak Ridge, passed away Wednesday, March 4, at Methodist Medical Center, following a lengthy illness.
He was born January 9, 1935 in Memphis, Tennessee, the son of Joseph P. and Eunice Rodman Hearn, both of whom are deceased.
He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Ann Duncan Hearn;Â son, Robert and his two daughters, Marissa and Kayleigh of Oak Ridge, and by son Gary and his wife Tracy and their children, Kaitlyn and Matthew of Franklin, Tennessee. His grandchildren have been his shining lights for 22 years. He is also survived by brother, Gerald Hearn of Memphis, and sisters, Joan True and husband J. W. of Conway, Arkansas, and Marylee Turner of Mesa, Arizona; and special friends, Richard and Jean Dew of Gatlinburg, and Linh and Sa Le of Oak Ridge.
Ken grew up in Memphis and graduated from Humes High School in 1953, along with his wife and a number of prominent persons, including several doctors, accountants, engineers, aircraft pilots, and entertainment personalities, including Elvis Presley and George Kline.
After high school, Ken entered the U.S. Marine Corps, where he served as a rifleman and later a personnel clerk. Upon completing his enlistment, he enrolled at Memphis State University and graduated in 1960 with a B.S. in Math and Industrial Arts. He then entered the U.S. Air Force, where he served for almost 20 years in the computing career field, with assignments in Texas, Viet Nam, Washington, D.C., Colorado, Virginia, Alabama, and Illinois.
He retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Upon his retirement from the Air Force, he began working for Union Carbide at Y-12, where he worked, again in computing, for almost 18 years, retiring in 1997. He worked in the Y-12 Plant Laboratory, the Y-12 Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) Division, and in the Computing and Technology Division. Ken volunteered for several years in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Group in Oak Ridge; with Habitat for Humanity; with other church members at the Love Kitchen in Knoxville, and with Big Brothers and Big Sisters.
He was very active in First Christian Church of Oak Ridge, serving in a number of offices and committees from 1979 until his death, with Elder Emeritus being his highest honor.
The family will receive friends on Friday, March 6, from 1 to 2 p.m. at First Christian Church. The funeral will begin at 2 p.m. with Rev. Steve Sherman officiating. Interment will follow at Oak Ridge Memorial Park. Full military honors will be provided by the US Air Force Honors Team.
The family asks that any memorials in lieu of flowers be made in his memory to First Christian Church, 100 Gum Hollow Road, Oak Ridge, TN 37830.
Weatherford Mortuary is in charge of the arrangements. An online guest book can be signed at www.weatherfordmortuary.com.
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