Obituary: John Richard Trabalka

John Richard Trabalka, Ph.D, 71, of Oak Ridge, passed away on Feb. 23, 2014, at Methodist Medical Center.

He was born to parents John Peter Trabalka and Marguerite Schmidt Trabalka on Oct. 30, 1942, In Ancon, Panama Canal Zone.

A published author, avid marathon runner, animal lover, and outdoorsman, John spent more than 31 years at Oak Ridge National Laboratories in the Environmental Sciences Division.

He was a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Sigma Xi, American Geophysical Union, and the University of Michigan Alumni Association.

Preceding him in death were his parents.

John is survived by his wife of 48 years, Betty Ann Wolpert Trabalka; sons, Michael P. Trabalka, Chris Trabalka and wife Lori, and Geoffery Trabalka and wife Liz, all of Oak Ridge; brothers, Ken Trabalka and wife Sue, Michael L. Trabalka, and Bob Trabalka; sister, Mary Jane Heynen and husband Bill, all of Bay City, Mich.; and grandchildren, Zachary, Claudia, and Maxwell, and Samantha, Kate, and Maggie, all of Oak Ridge.

The family requests that memorials be in the form of donations to Thompson Cancer Survival Center or TN Valley Golden Retriever Rescue.

The family will be receive friends Saturday, March 1, from 2-4 p.m. at Weatherford Mortuary. An online guest book may be signed at weatherfordmortuary.com.