Oak Ridge Today

Obituary: Vernon Ray Bolden

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Vernon Ray Bolden, age 72, a resident of Oliver Springs, passed away Wednesday, February 18, at Methodist Medical Center.

Ray was born November 28, 1942, in the Upper Camp of Windrock Mountain. He was a lifelong resident of Oliver Springs.

Mr. Bolden retired from the X-10 Federal Plant as a heavy equipment operator in the forestry division, following 32 years of service.

He was an avid outdoorsman and was a former president of the Tri-County Sportsman’s Club. He also enjoyed golfing with his friends and had a passion for gardening. [Read more…]

Obituary: Charles Baxter

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Charles Baxter

Charles Baxter

Charles Baxter, age 84, of Oak Ridge, passed away Wednesday, February 18, at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville.

He was born July 12, 1930, in Sevier County, the son of Creed and Stella Williams Baxter.

Charles served with the U.S. Army during the Korean War era in Greenland.

He retired from Martin Marietta Energy Systems, where he was a production machinist at the Y-12 plant. [Read more…]

Obituary: Beulah Mae Coker Wilson

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Beulah Mae Coker Wilson

Beulah Mae Coker Wilson

Beulah Mae Coker Wilson, age 89, a lifelong resident of Oliver Springs, passed away, Wednesday, February 18, at Methodist Medical Center.

Mrs. Wilson was born on November 4, 1925, in Roane County. She was a lifelong resident of this area.

Beulah Mae was a faithful member of the New Mountain View Baptist Church in Oliver Springs, where she was always willing to assist in any church activities, especially during Bible school. She could always be counted on to devote her time in giving care to the sick in the church, also in her community, and she is one who will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. [Read more…]

Obituary: Mack Austin Ruffner

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Mack Austin Fuffner

Mack Austin Ruffner

Mack Austin Ruffner went home to be with the Lord, February 16, at the Life Care Center of Morgan County.

He was born to Leonard and Sudie Jackson Ruffner on April 21, 1930, in Coalfield. Mack’s mother died when he was eight years of age, at which time he went to live with his maternal grandmother Fannie Jackson, in a coal mining town in Kentucky. His beloved Grandmother Jackson raised him as a son, and he loved her as a mother.

When he was in the sixth grade, they returned to Coalfield, where Mack graduated high school in 1948. With his sense of humor, Mack liked to boast that he was in the top 10 of his class. Incidentally, there were only 10 in the class. [Read more…]

Obituary: Faye Harmon

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Faye Harmon, age 71, of Clinton, passed away Monday, February 16, at Methodist Medical Center in Oak Ridge.

Faye began playing the piano when she was 10 years old and played at Lakeview Baptist Church where she attended. She enjoyed shopping, crafting, and raising her kids and grandkids.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Charles Eugene and Flossie Mae Ellis; brother, Bill Ellis; and great-grandson, Anthony James Hampton. [Read more…]

Obituary: Mary M. Jones

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Mary M. Jones

Mary M. Jones

Mary M. Jones born April 26, 1913, and formerly of Oak Ridge passed away Saturday, February 14, in Monroe, Georgia, at the age of 101.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents Joe Wallace and Ada Wallace; husband Lacy H. Jones; brother Homer Wallace; two sons, Billy Wallace and James Arthur Jones; as well as grandson Mark Allen Jones.

Mary is survived by her son Jack C. Jones Sr.; daughter-in-law Mary Y. Jones; and several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grand children.  [Read more…]

Obituary: Dorothy ‘Dot’ Gwendolyn Smith Poteet

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Dorothy "Dot" Gwendolyn Smith Poteet

Dorothy “Dot” Gwendolyn Smith Poteet

Dorothy “Dot” Gwendolyn Smith Poteet, age 88, of Oak Ridge, passed away Monday, February 16, at Methodist Medical Center.

She was born November 9, 1926, in Middlesboro, Kentucky, the daughter of Henry and Bell Burch Smith.

She attended First Baptist Church of Oak Ridge, and was a member of the Oak Ridge Woman’s Club, the Oak Ridge Boat Club, and the Ladies of the Elks, Lodge #1684. Mrs. Poteet enjoyed playing bridge and in earlier years she was an avid bowler and Cub Scout den mother. [Read more…]

Obituary: Emma Marquez

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Emma Marquez, age 91 of Clinton, passed away on Wednesday, February 16, at NHC Healthcare in Oak Ridge.

Emma is survived by her daughter Annie Andersen and husband Bob of Clinton.

At Emma’s request, all services were private. Jones Mortuary in Clinton was in charge of all services.

Obituary: Clara ‘Esther’ Manning

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Esther Manning

Esther Manning

Clara “Esther” Manning, age 90, of Oak Ridge, Tennessee passed away February 5, 2015, at Ben Atchley State Veterans Home in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Esther was born September 13, 1924, in Whitley City, Kentucky, the daughter of the late Henry “Pat” and Linda (Casada) Alcorn. Esther was an early member of the Oak Ridge Arts Center and past president of the Arts Center Guild. She graduated with high honors from the University of Tennessee with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art History. She was active in local garden clubs and had served as Secretary of the Tennessee Federation of Garden Clubs and on the board of the Ivan Ratcheff Memorial House and Gardens in Knoxville. She excelled at flower arranging, receiving awards in several local and state competitions. She was a longtime member of First Baptist Church of Oak Ridge and a Methodist Medical Center “pink lady” volunteer. [Read more…]

Obituary: Robert ‘Bob’ Allison Costner Jr.

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Robert "Bob" Allison Costner Jr.

Robert “Bob” Allison Costner Jr.

Robert “Bob” Allison Costner Jr., age 81, of Oak Ridge, died Monday, February 9, at Methodist Medical Center.

He is survived by his wife, Frances N. Costner, with whom he celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in November; daughters and sons-in-law, Eloise (Robert F.) Brockett of Hixson, Tennessee, and Alison (Daniel J.) Higgins of Severna Park, Maryland; granddaughters, Melissa Brockett and Gabriella Higgins; and grandson, Joshua Higgins.

Bob was born November 29, 1933, in Lincolnton, North Carolina, to Robert A. Costner Sr. and Eloise Batchelor Costner.

Bob was a graduate of the McCallie School of Chattanooga, North Carolina State University, and the Oak Ridge School of Reactor Technology (ORSORT). He was a “Distinguished Air Force ROTC Graduate” at North Carolina State, graduating in 1955 with a degree in nuclear engineering. [Read more…]

Obituary: Sarah Cathryn ‘Cathy’ Gunter

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Sarah Cathryn "Cathy" Gunter

Sarah Cathryn “Cathy” Gunter

Sarah Cathryn “Cathy” Gunter, age 61, of Russellville, Tennessee, and formerly of Oak Ridge, died Friday, January 23, at the Morristown Hamblen Health Care System.

She was born February 15, 1953, in Oak Ridge, the daughter of Richard Edward Brockwell and Sylvia White Brockwell.

In earlier years, Cathy had worked at the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter. [Read more…]

Obituary: Richard Boston “RB” Russell

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Richard Boston "RB" Russell

Richard Boston “RB” Russell

Richard Boston “RB” Russell, age 87, went home to be with the Lord, February 4, at his home in Oliver Springs.

R.B. was born November 12, 1927. He grew up and continued to live in Coalfield until his marriage to his late wife of 51 years, Emma Jean Davis Russell.

While living in Coalfield, he was recognized as an outstanding football player at Coalfield High School and his athleticism followed him throughout his life.

He entered into the United States Army and served our country during the Korean War, where he received several commendations.  [Read more…]