Oak Ridge Today

Obituary: Dorothy Jones Wilkinson

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Dorothy Jones Wilkinson

Dorothy Jones Wilkinson

Dorothy Wilkinson, a resident of Greenfield of Oak Ridge, passed away Monday, July 28, surrounded by loving family. She was 88.

She was preceded in death by her parents Victor and Kate Jone;, husband Paul; sisters, Mary Helen (and husband Joe), Margaret (and husband Pat), and Maime (and husband Bill); brothers Willard Worth, Woodrow, and David (and Peg); and granddaughter Paige.

As outlined in Denise Kiernan’s “The Girls of Atomic City,” Dorothy Jones came from west Tennessee to the Secret City in 1944, where she met and married Paul Wilkinson. They shared 65 years of marriage before Paul’s passing in June 2010.

In addition to raising her four children, Dorothy volunteered for many activities and hobbies, including as leader of her Girl Scouts Troop, sang in Kern Memorial Methodist Church’s choir as well as with Sweet Adelines, worked in the Oak Ridge Hospital Gift Shop, The PInk Placebo, and The Oak Ridge Museum of Atomic Energy. She and Paul studied with Ethel Howell’s School of Ballroom Dancing and enjoyed many years cha cha’ing with their friends in YAGO (young adults growing old). She was a member of United Methodist Women, and shared a lifetime of good company with her girlfriends in bridge club. [Read more…]

Obituary: William Dillard Campbell

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William Dillard Campbell, age 56, of Lafollette, passed away Friday, July 25, at Tennova Lafollette Medical Center.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Bessie Campbell; sister, Evelyn McCulley; brothers, Chester, Lester, and George Campbell; and brother-in-law, Hershell Lovely.

Dillard owned Campbell Tree Service and enjoyed cleaning house, fishing, and boating. He had lots of friends and considered himself as a “good ole country boy who was good at heart and loved God and Jesus.” [Read more…]

Obituary: Dennis Seiber

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Dennis Seiber, age 91, a resident of Oliver Springs, passed away Monday, July 28, at his home.

Mr. Seiber was born April 16, 1923, on the family farm in Oliver Springs. He was a lifelong resident of this area.

Dennis served his country bravely in the U.S. Army, during World War II, in the 136th infantry division, of the 6th army. He was a duty soldier and a expert marksman “M-1 Carbine.” When he returned home, he brought back both battle scars and a Purple Heart. Additionally, he received the Philippine Liberation Ribbon, for his service in both the battles of Leyte and Luzon Philippine Islands. He also received a combat infantry badge, the WW II Victory Medal, and several other medals and awards.  [Read more…]

Obituary: Florence Bernice Cox

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Florence Bernice Cox, age 84, a resident of Oliver Springs, passed away Monday, July 28, at Briarcliff Health Care Center, in Oak Ridge.

Mrs. Cox was born February 21, 1930, in Roane County. She was a lifelong resident of this area.

She was a homemaker, a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She enjoyed cooking, canning, and growing both vegetables and flowers.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles Gilmore and Minnie Cheeks Gilmore; by her husbands, Winfred Shoopman and Albert L. Cox; by a stepdaughter, Elessa Hatfield; by a grandson, Michael Brown; by great-grandchildren, Gage, Jackson, and Grayson Brown; by sisters, Mae Hobbs, Betty Sue Burris, and Stella Rose; by brothers, Bob Gilmore, Virgil Neeley, and Lawrence Neeley; and by a son-in-law, Billy Edmonds. [Read more…]

Obituary: James Howard Day

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James Howard Day

James Howard Day

James Howard Day, age 91, of Oak Ridge, passed away Thursday, July 24, at his home.

He was born February 6, 1923, in Sneedville, Tennessee, the son of Anderson “Otto” James Day and Jenny Irene Livesay Day.

He served six years in the U.S. Marine Corps. During World War II, he was a radio supervisor in the Pacific Theater for 30 months, with duty at Gilbert Islands, Kwajalein Atoll, Saipan, Guam, Iwo Jima and Japan. He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for duty on Iwo Jima.

Mr. Day retired as a general supervisor in the Instrumentation and Controls Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory with 38 years of service. [Read more…]

Obituary: Catherine Anita Webster

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Catherine Anita Webster

Catherine Anita Webster

Catherine “Miss Cathy” Anita Webster of Oak Ridge went to be with the Lord on Thursday, August 24, after a brave fight with cancer.

She was born on March 15, 1941, in Buckeye Furnace, Ohio.

She was a graduate of the Apostolic Bible Institute in St. Paul, Minnesota. She and her husband ministered for many years and began a Bible college in South Florida that is still going strong. She loved children and ministered to generations of children in a special way.

She lived for many years with her family in South Florida and then moved to Clearwater, Florida, for several years. In 2006, she became a resident of Oak Ridge and was an active member of Calvary Lighthouse Apostolic Church. She worked for Comfort Keepers and the Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge up until the time of her illness. [Read more…]

Obituary: Thelma Fay Turner Doyle

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Thelma Fay Turner Doyle

Thelma Fay Turner Doyle

Thelma Turner Doyle, 88, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, July 27, 2014, at Regency Health Care and Rehabilitation Center in Huntsville, Alabama. She was a resident of Oak Ridge from 1957 until 2007.

She was born September 18, 1925, in Clincho, Virginia, the daughter of George Tildon Turner and Elsie Harris Turner. She worked for Sears and met the love of her life, George Doyle, in 1950. They married in 1955 and moved to Oak Ridge in 1957. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. Spending time with her grandchildren was very special to her.

She was a member of First United Methodist Church. She was very active in the church’s education programs, and served as director of the children’s Sunday school program. She was a member of several fellowship groups at the church and worked in the church library in her later years.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 51 years; brother Donald Turner; and infant son. [Read more…]

Obituary: Peggy Lucile Vinyard

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Peggy Lucile Vinyard

Peggy Lucile Vinyard

Peggy Lucile Vinyard, age 85, of Oak Ridge, passed away Sunday, July 27, 2014, at her home surrounded by family.

She was born October 26, 1928, in Midco, Missouri, the daughter of Arthur Jewell and Grace Payne Greene.

Mrs. Vinyard moved to Oak Ridge in 1960 with her husband, Lloyd, and children. She was a homemaker and one of her favorite hobbies was baking, which she loved to share with family and friends.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd Vinyard; infant daughter, Marsha Vinyard; and brother Jim Greene. [Read more…]

Obituary: Shawn Franklin

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Shawn Andrew Franklin

Shawn Andrew Franklin

Shawn Franklin, age 54, of Oak Ridge, passed away Saturday, July 26, 2014, due to complications of a lengthy illness.

He was born October 2, 1959, in Oak Ridge.

Shawn was preceded in death by his father, Martin Franklin Jr., and his grandmother, Doris “Granny” Bartlett.

He is survived by his wife of 24 years, Sonya Willis Franklin and their son, Cody. He also leaves his mother, Jackie Franklin; brother, Kitric (Luty) Franklin; and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. He will also be greatly missed by the family pets, Gucci, Major, Sadie, and Hoss. [Read more…]

Obituary: Veronica Marie Stenglein Armento

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Veronica Marie Armento

Veronica Marie Armento

Veronica Marie Stenglein Armento, 79, of Oak Ridge, passed away on July 19, 2014, at Methodist Medical Center.

She was born June 27, 1935 in Queens, New York, to parents Frederick and Amelia D’Amico Stenglein.

Veronica was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Oak Ridge.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Frederick Stenglein and Amelia D’Amico Stenglein.

Her survivors include her husband, William Joseph Armento, of Oak Ridge; daughter, Maria Elizabeth Anne Armento, of Oak Ridge; sister, Virginia Marie Allen, of Oak Ridge; brothers, George Stenglein and wife Lynn, of Goodlettsville, and Fred Stenglein and wife Suzanne, of Crossville; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins. [Read more…]

Obituary: Merilee ‘Mimi’ Whalen Parnell

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Merilee "Mimi" Whalen Parnell

Merilee “Mimi” Whalen Parnell

Merilee “Mimi” Whalen Parnell, age 52, a resident of New Market, Tennessee, passed away Monday, July 14, 2014, at her home.

Mimi was born April 16, 1962, in Oak Ridge. She grew up in Oliver Springs and continued to live here until after her high school graduation, in 1980. She later lived in Ohio, South Carolina, and most recently, she moved to New Market.

She was employed as a medical coder and she enjoyed pencil art, photography, and music.

Mimi was preceded in death by her parents, Alfred Young Whalen and Ruby Hazel Hill Whalen; by sisters, Lisa Gail Whalen and Nancy Jo “Jodi” Chavers; and by a brother, Lenny Whalen. [Read more…]

Obituary: Robert Jett Shannon

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Robert Jett Shannon, 88, a resident of Oliver Springs, was born August 30, 1925, in Springfield, Tennessee, and he entered into the Haven of rest on July 16, 2014, following a brief illness.

Mr. Shannon was a World War II veteran who served in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946. While serving, he received several medals, ribbons, and citations. He was a staff engineer at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and he retired after 42-plus years of company service.

He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Oak Ridge. He loved farming, and he farmed all of his life.

Mr. Shannon was preceded in death by daughters, Carol and Annette Shannon; by a grandson, Billy Wayne Blackburn III; by his parents, William Cook Shannon and Jennie Ruth Jett Shannon; by a sister, Martha Shannon Barnes; and by a special brother-in-law, Jerry Taylor. [Read more…]