Obituary: James W. ‘Red’ Halsey

James W. Halsey, of Oak Ridge, entered the Church Triumphant on Saturday. After battling bravely and persistently for several years, “Red” died of his relentless disease early on Feb. 22, 2014. A native of Wytheville, Va., born in 1927, James and his late wife, Peggy moved to Oak Ridge in 1954. He worked for 34 years at Y-12, retiring in 1988.

As a youth in Wytheville, Red played football at Wytheville High School. He married Lula Maglin “Peggy” Pannell before heading to the Army. He was stationed stateside during World War II.

James loved bowling, fishing, and golfing. He was a pitcher in the slow-pitch leagues in Oak Ridge. His sports career highlights include a hole-in-one in 1983 and a 296 bowling score. He was inducted into the Wythe County sports Hall of Fame in 1989.

Red, a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Oak Ridge, was a devoted family man. He and his wife were the parents of two children, Bill Halsey (wife Helene) and Judy Carson (husband Tom), and proudly claim seven grandchildren Heather Halsey, Amy Teague, Maglin Halsey, Lillie Halsey, William Halsey, John Carson (wife Shirley), and Joe Carson; and nine great-grandchildren, Olivia, Sophia, and Gabrielle Fletcher; Kaylen Teague; Austin, Kyler, Briley, and Ashley Carson; and Ryan Hernandez. Bill and wife Helene Halsey live in Knoxville. Judy and husband Tom Carson reside in Chattanooga.

Red was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Florence Halsey; a brother, Cecil Halsey; a sister, Helen Gordon; and his wife, Peggy. He is survived by sister Gladys (husband Frank) Alvis, his children, grandchildren, and many other relatives and a multitude of friends, who are loved like his natural family.

Red would have wanted to thank and recognize his family, friends, neighbors, and nurses who cared for him in his several years of health struggles. Without you, he “would have been gone long ago.”

The funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 1, at Grace Lutheran Church 131 W. Gettysburg Ave. in Oak Ridge, with Pastor Stephen Damos officiating and interment following at Oak Ridge Memorial Park.

Visitation will be Friday, Feb. 28, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Martin Oak Ridge Funeral Home and Saturday, March 1, at Grace Lutheran Church from 1 p.m. until the time of service.

The family requests contributions in lieu of flowers to the Food Pantry at Grace Lutheran Church in Oak Ridge, your local Food Bank, or the Wounded Warrior Project.

Martin Oak Ridge Funeral Home is serving the Halsey family. Online messages to the family may be left at www. martinfuneralhomeoakridge.com.