Oak Ridge Today

Obituary: James Howard Day

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

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

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

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

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

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

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

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

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

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

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

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

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

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

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

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…]

Obituary: Dorothy Ellen Brashears

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Dorothy Ellen Brashears

Dorothy Ellen Brashears

Dorothy Ellen Brashears, age 89, a resident of Franklin, Tennessee, and formerly of Oliver Springs, passed away Friday, July 18, 2014, in Franklin.

Mrs. Brashears was born on November 4, 1924, in Tazewell County, Virginia. She moved to Oak Ridge in 1942 and later began employment at ORNL at the Y-12 federal plant. She continued her employment until her retirement in 1988, as a chemical operator.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Henry Cleveland Lockhart and Fannie Ann Rose Lockhart; by her husband, Arvel Brashears’ by a daughter, Carolyn Marie Dawson; by sisters, Leona, Edna, Sadie, Irene, and Aline; and by three brothers, Robert, William and Curtis. [Read more…]

Obituary: James Andrew ‘Papaw Jimmy’ Crain

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

James Andrew “Papaw Jimmy” Crain, age 57, a resident of Briceville, passed away Friday, July 18, 2014, at the University of Tennessee Medical Center.

Jimmy was born December 6, 1956, in Knoxville. He continued to live in Knoxville until his move to Briceville in 2009.

He was a disabled truck driver and he enjoyed fishing in his spare time. [Read more…]

Obituary: Robert Ramsey Bigelow Jr.

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Robert Ramsey Bigelow Jr.

Robert Ramsey Bigelow Jr.

Robert R. Bigelow, age 67, died peacefully after a lengthy illness on Friday, June 27, 2014. He was the son of the late Dr. Robert and Marlys Bigelow.

Robert leaves four siblings and their families: Mary Bigelow Huntoon of Wenham, Massachusettes, her husband Daniel, and their four sons; William Bigelow of Verona, Virginia, and his three children; Anne Bigelow of Atlanta, Georgia; and James Bigelow of Missoula, Montana, his wife Mary Ann, and their three children. He also leaves his aunt, Joyce Hintz, and numerous cousins.

Robert was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He grew up in Oak Ridge, finishing at the high school and graduating from Valparaiso University, where he received his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering.

He returned to Oak Ridge, where he worked for Union Carbide at Y-12 as a software engineer. Robert was certified as a professional engineer and was a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers. He was recognized for technical achievement by Y-12 in 1993. Robert retired in February after 45 years at the plant. [Read more…]

Obituary: Larry Norman Hildreth

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Larry Norman Hildreth

Larry Norman Hildreth

Larry Norman Hildreth, age 51, passed away Thursday, July 10, 2014, at his home following an extended illness.

He was born April 13, 1963, in Oak Ridge, and was preceded in death by his parents, Louise and Norman Hildreth.

He is survived by his twin brother Gary Hildreth, wife Virginia and children Brittany, Breanna, and Robert; and his sister Rebecca Hildreth Cooper, husband Perry and daughters Christina, Lindsey, and Sydney. He graduated from Oak Ridge High School.

Larry had been medically disabled for a number of years and enjoyed spending time with his family, friends, and his faithful German Shepard, Jasmine. He made many good friends during his years in Oak Ridge, with special friends Louise Thomas, Bill Heaton, and Orie Rice.

The receiving of friends will be Saturday, July 19 at 11 a.m. at Weatherford Mortuary with a memorial service to follow immediately afterward. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, a memorial donation may be made to the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter.