Obituary: Charles Simon Yust

Charles Simon Yust, 83, of Oak Ridge, died Wednesday, April 30, due to complications of lymphoma.

Charlie is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Carole Bland Yust; children John (Linda Dicus), Laura (Ruth), and Carla Bouvy (Chuck); grandchildren John Wesley Springer, Lennon Springer, Cassady Yust, Julia Mann Clem (Jay), and Christiana and Daniel Bouvy; great-grand children Oswin and Natalie Springer; and nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents, Nathan and Jeannette Newman Yust, and sister Juliet Savarese.

Charlie was born in Newark, New Jersey. He earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the Newark College of Engineering (now the New Jersey Institute of Technology), where he was a member of Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society. He earned a master’s degree in metallurgy from the University of Tennessee, where he was a member of Sigma Xi scientific research society. Charlie was a fellow of the American Ceramic Society.

He worked as a chemical engineer at the K-25 Gaseous Diffusion Plant from 1952 until 1960 and then at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the Metals and Ceramics Division from 1960 until his retirement in 1994. A highlight of his career was a year spent working at the Kernforschungsanlage in Jülich, Germany, from 1973 to 1974. The whole family still has wonderful memories of that year abroad and maintains contact with friends they met there.

A resident of Oak Ridge since July 1, 1952, he moved briefly to Florence, Alabama, to work in the Scientific and Professional Personnel with the Army Corps of Engineers from 1953 until 1955. While in Florence, he first met Carole on April 18, 1954, and they married on October 30, 1955. Charlie and Carole celebrated the 60th anniversary of the day they met with family, friends, and hospital staff while he was at Methodist Medical Center.

Charlie was an avid music lover who enjoyed attending concerts frequently. He was also active in the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association and served as president of the association for several years. He enjoyed reading about history and philosophy, traveling, and hiking in the Great Smoky Mountains, and he took a great deal of pleasure in creative pursuits, specifically crewel embroidery and stained glass.

He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather who cherished his family. He always said that one of the most important things in life was to keep learning, and he was admired for his intellectual honesty.

Charlie participated as a volunteer with Mended Hearts at Methodist Medical Center He was a member of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, where he served on several committees and taught high school students in the religious education program.

Charlie was very fond of his many four-legged friends, especially the family cat Lela Mae, who barely tolerated anyone else, but spent lots of time in Charlie’s lap.

Charlie always joked that he wanted it listed in his obituary that he was a safety patrol officer at the Ivy Street Elementary School and that he was Chief Sleeping Lizard of the Y Indian Guides (to son John’s Leaping Lizard). Friends and family will miss his sense of humor, quick wit, and way with words.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 10, at 3 p.m. at Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, 1500 Oak Ridge Turnpike. The Rev. Jake Morrill will officiate.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Foothills Land Conservancy, 373 Ellis Avenue, Maryville, TN 37804; the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church memorial fund; or the Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge.