Obituaries Archives - Oak Ridge Today

Funeral is Saturday for Williams, who fought to integrate CHS in 1956

Posted at 8:27 am March 21, 2019
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Alfred Williams

Alfred Williams, one of the Clinton 12 students who fought for the integration of Clinton High School in 1956, died Thursday, March 14. He was 83. His funeral is Saturday.

“On behalf of the Green McAdoo Cultural Organization, the City of Clinton, and the State of Tennessee, we extend our heartfelt condolences to the family of Mr. Alfred Williams,” Green McAdoo Cultural Organization said in a statement. “Alfred passed away at The Waters Nursing and Rehabilitation Facility on March 14, 2019, surrounded by family. He was one of the Clinton 12 students that fought for the integration of Clinton High School in 1956, blazing a trail for all black students to achieve equal education under the law. He went on to work in the city school system and became one of the friendly faces of Clinton Elementary School and the ‘candy man’ until his retirement. He will be missed by family, friends, and all those blessed to know him.” [Read more…]

Obituary: Lois E. Callaghan

Posted at 11:59 am February 27, 2019
By Sandra Weatherford Leave a Comment

Lois E. Callaghan

Lois E. Callaghan, 96, a longtime resident of Oak Ridge, died February 24, 2019, peacefully at her home following a brief illness. At her passing, she was surrounded by children and grandchildren who were blessed by her unconditional love and unwavering faith.

Until the last two weeks of her life, she was a tireless supporter of her church and community and a source of strength and inspiration for her family and friends.

“Lois was a pillar of St. Mary’s parish and touched many lives in Oak Ridge,” said close friend Pat Zanolli. “She was a loyal friend and nurturing mother who will be lovingly missed.”

A devout Roman Catholic, Mrs. Callaghan initiated development of the Perpetual Adoration Ministry at St. Mary’s Church. With her parish partners, she fostered this ministry for almost 20 years. Decades earlier in 1958, she and her husband commissioned a marble statue of the Virgin Mary on the parish grounds that was sanctioned by the diocese Bishop as Our Lady of Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

Obituary: Harriet Sirena Hawkins Cofer

Posted at 12:55 pm August 26, 2018
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Harriet Sirena Hawkins Cofer

Harriet Sirena Hawkins Cofer, 91, of Oak Ridge, passed away Friday, August 24, 2018, at the Courtyards of Oak Ridge.

She was the fourth child of nine born to James Dillard Hawkins and Lillie Gentry Hawkins of Jackson County, Tennessee.

Mrs. Cofer was a faithful servant of the Lord and a Charter Member of Highland View Church of Christ. She loved flowers, hummingbirds, and antiques, and she was an excellent cook and accomplished seamstress. She was also a very talented porcelain painter.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Harold DeWillis Cofer, in 2012. [Read more…]

Celebration of Life to be held Saturday for Frank ‘Pappy’ Sewell

Posted at 2:23 pm August 3, 2018
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Frank Sewell

A Celebration of Life will be held for Frank “Pappy” Sewell, age 64, of Oak Ridge, who passed away Friday, July 13, at his home. The event will be held Saturday, August 4, at Calhoun’s in Oak Ridge from 1 to 4 p.m.

Frank served our country in the U.S. Navy. He retired from Anderson County government after 32 years and became director for Knoxville Recycling Coalition, where he worked for seven years. Frank also was a drummer and played with the West Side Cats and Mojo Tweed.

He is preceded in death by parents, Bill and Frances Sewell; his brother, Billy Sewell; and sister-in-law, Mary Sewell. [Read more…]

Memorial Service: Scott Hunter

Posted at 8:47 am August 2, 2018
By Oak Ridge Today Staff Leave a Comment

Scott Hunter, 66, died unexpectedly last Thursday, July 26, at his home in Oak Ridge.

A Memorial Service will be held on Thursday, August 2, at 6 p.m. in the Sanctuary of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike, with a reception to immediately follow, in the Social Hall.

Obituary: Linda L. Patchett Brown

Posted at 4:49 pm August 1, 2018
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Linda Brown

Linda L. Patchett Brown passed away at the age of 76 on July 29, 2018, at her home in Oak Ridge after a long 10-year fight against metastatic breast cancer. She never gave up, but finally lost the fight.

She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Walter K. Brown; two sons, David Walter Brown and wife Amy Jean and their children, Tanner, Savannah, and Sierra, and Roger Kermit Brown and children, Elias and Gabriel; and her favorite dog, “Sugar,” who went to work every day with her.

She is also survived by sister, Patricia Garver and husband Billy and their children, Jason and Angie; brother, Larry Kermit Patchett and wife Mary Lou and their son, Lance, and several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law and their families in Casey, Illinois.

Linda was raised in Casey, Illinois, by parents Kermit and Eileen Patchett, who are both deceased. [Read more…]

Former Supreme Court chief justice who once worked in Oak Ridge dies at 85

Posted at 3:14 pm July 6, 2018
By John Huotari 2 Comments

Tom Beehan, Cornelia Clark, Gary Wade, Riley Anderson, and Sharon Lee

Pictured above at Razzleberry’s Ice Cream Lab and Kitchen in Oak Ridge on Thursday, July 31, 2014, are, from left to right, former Oak Ridge Mayor Tom Beehan, Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Cornelia Clark, former Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Gary Wade, former Tennessee Supreme Court Chief Justice Riley Anderson, and Tennessee Supreme Court Justice Sharon Lee. (File photo by John Huotari/Oak Ridge Today)

Edward Riley Anderson, a former Tennessee Supreme Court chief justice who once worked and volunteered in Oak Ridge, died Wednesday, July 4, after a long fight with cancer. He was 85.

Anderson was born in Chattanooga but moved to Knoxville as a child, according to his obituary. He graduated from Central High School and received his bachelor’s and law degrees from the University of Tennessee.

After law school, in 1958, Anderson became the first associate at the Oak Ridge law firm of Wilson & Joyce, according to the Tennessee State Courts website. Frank Wilson and Gene Joyce would have a major impact on his life, the state said in a news story posted online.

“I couldn’t have had two better mentors to go to,” Anderson said in that article. “I think it’s important to have that when you’re a young lawyer and you’re malleable. You’re going to be influenced by whoever you associate with. I couldn’t have been more fortunate in my choice of mentors.”

When Wilson left the firm after his appointment to the federal bench, Anderson became a managing partner, and the firm was renamed Joyce, Anderson, and Meredith, the state courts news story said. [Read more…]

Obituary: Eula Wills Holland

Posted at 8:10 pm March 14, 2018
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Eula Holland

Eula Wills Holland of Kingsport, Tennessee, born September 2, 1923, at Silver Lake, Tennessee, passed away Tuesday, March 6, 2018.

Eula was a gracious and hospitable Southern lady who exemplified the attributes of I Corinthians 13 to all who knew her. She was born a farm girl who love the mountains and lived life to the fullest. Eula will be remembered by her family and friends as a loving, caring and compassionate wife, mother, and friend.

Mrs. Holland was a member of First Broad Street United Methodist Church. She was a committed Christian who enjoyed attending several Bible studies. Eula used her God-given talent of being an award-winning recipient in penmanship to share her faith. Her ministry was sharing her beautiful penmanship through notes to the sick, bereaved, and those celebrating special occasions. She treasured the company of her cherished friends, Chris Blue and Jan Larkins. Her greatest joy in life was her son, Walter.

Eula was a graduate of Steed College. She and her husband owned and ran several businesses including Holland Oil Company, Holland Texaco, Oak Ridge Equipment Rental, and Tri-City Equipment Rental to name a few. She served as an executive assistant in the engineering department at Holston Defense Corporation in Kingsport. During World War II, Eula transferred to the Oak Ridge, Tennessee, installation of the secret Manhattan Project where the material for nuclear explosives was refined. [Read more…]

Roane County Commissioner Steve Kelley of Oak Ridge dies at 63

Posted at 1:13 pm February 25, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Steve Kelley

Roane County Commissioner Steve Kelley, an Oak Ridge resident, died Wednesday evening, February 21. He was 63.

Kelley, who lived on Oklahoma Avenue in Oak Ridge, represented District 4 on the Roane County Commission. That district includes the Oak Hills, Oliver Springs, and Orchard View voting precincts. Oak Hills is in west Oak Ridge.

Kelley was on the Budget Committee appointed by Roane County Executive Ron Woody.

“He was a great Budget Committee member,” Woody said Sunday. “He will be dearly missed as a Budget Committee member and as a Roane County Commissioner.” [Read more…]

Vann, who started girls basketball team at ORHS, died Friday

Posted at 9:02 pm February 21, 2018
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Sudartha Vann

Sudartha Ellen Vann, who started the girls basketball team at Oak Ridge High School and coached the first sanctioned game in 1973, died Friday, February 16. She was 81.

Born in Radford, Virginia, on December 5, 1936, Vann graduated from Oak Ridge High School in 1955. After graduation, she worked for the Oak Ridge Recreation Department as a playground director for two years at Woodland Elementary School.

Later, she earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee in 1964 and a master’s degree in 1970. She taught health and physical education at Oak Ridge High School for 30 years, according to her obituary.

Vann was a good athlete, and she loved basketball, her obituary said. She participated in the 1954 and 1955 Southern Appalachian Basketball Tournament at Chilhowee Park. These teams were comprised of Oak Ridge Church League players and coached by Margaret Gotshall. Vann earned numerous relay medals swimming at the Oak Ridge Municipal Pool at the ACAC swim meets, where large crowds would gather to watch swimmers compete from several southern states, and she played softball for more than 10 years for the Kerns Methodist team. [Read more…]

Obituary: Robert William Holmberg

Posted at 7:49 pm June 22, 2017
By John Huotari Leave a Comment

Robert William Holmberg

Robert William Holmberg, 94, who spent his career as a chemist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, passed away Tuesday, June 20, 2017, four months after the death of his beloved wife, Reba Justice Holmberg.

Bob was born in 1923 to the late Elmer and Ida (Barquist) Holmberg in Fort Dodge, Iowa. He developed an early curiosity in science and especially chemistry, which included setting off at least one explosion during a chemistry experiment in his home. He graduated from Iowa State University with a BS in Chemistry in 1944. As a student there, he began working on the Manhattan Project at the Ames Laboratory. Eventually drafted into the Army, after a short basic training, he found himself plucked from the ranks to join the Army’s Special Engineer Detachment and was sent to wartime Oak Ridge.

Bob’s first job in Oak Ridge was in a research division at Castle on the Hill (now known as DOE Headquarters). [Read more…]

Obituary: Pauline Hance Bishop

Posted at 7:15 pm May 19, 2017
By Oak Ridge Today Obituaries Leave a Comment

Pauline Hance Bishop

Pauline “Polly” Hance Bishop, 89, was born in the Sandy Ridge area near Dandridge, grew up in Chestnut Hill, and attended Maury High School in Dandridge, where she was the captain of the district-winning basketball team in her senior year.

She studied at Draughon’s Business College prior to her marriage to John C. Bishop. The couple met on a bus ride, where he was arriving in Chestnut Hill while designing/building a conveyer system at Bush Bros. Canning Factory and she was leaving to attend business school in Knoxville. Their romance began when John purchased Pauline’s pie at a church “pie supper” for the then huge amount of $5, and she ate pie with the winning bidder. They were married and moved to Oak Ridge, where John had earlier worked at the then World War II secret city.

Pauline was known to her many friends as Polly and to her granddaughter Brigid as MomBish. She was active in her church and in the community. She served in many capacities for Trinity’s Methodist Womens group and sang in the church choir. She was Room Mother for 1st-5th grades while her son attended “old” Linden Elementary and was Den Mother for the Cub Scouts. She sang with the Sweet Adelines, was a member of Beta Sigma Phi sorority, a board member of Oak Ridge Employees Credit Union, and represented the Oak Ridge Credit Unions Association at state meetings in Memphis. Her longest running contribution was her many years of work with the Contact Helpline. [Read more…]