Oak Ridge Today

Obituary: Willadean Hines

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Willadean Hines, age 89, a resident of Oliver Springs, passed away Monday, April 21, 2014, at Park West Medical Center in Knoxville.

Mrs. Hines was born April 6, 1925, in Heber Springs, Arkansas. She moved to Oliver Springs in 1955.

Mrs. Hines was a faithful Christian and a member of Kellytown Baptist Church and the Order of Eastern Star, Chapter 211. She enjoyed traveling, reading, and working crossword puzzles.

Before her retirement, she was employed by the Anderson County Schools in the Head Start program. [Read more…]

Obituary: Wanda Alice Hamilton

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Wanda McPherson Hamilton

Wanda McPherson Hamilton

Wanda Alice Hamilton, age 80, of Oak Ridge, died peacefully in her sleep Tuesday, April 15.

She was born Sept. 2, 1933, in Knoxville, the daughter of Samuel Henderson and Velma Hines McPherson.

Mrs. Hamilton was a former pianist and active member of Glenwood Baptist Church. She was a current member of Central Baptist Church, where she also sang in the choir and played piano. She was a talented pianist and played live for radio stations in Knoxville, and continued to play piano her entire life.

She enjoyed antiques, clogging, and was an avid reader and history buff. Mrs. Hamilton was an outgoing salesperson with Proffitt’s Department Store during the ’70s and ’80s, and was loved by many loyal customers. After retirement, she worked in an antique store in Jackson Square. [Read more…]

Obituary: Gwendolyn Angel Brown Wolfe

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Gwendolyn Angel Brown Wolfe

Gwendolyn Angel Brown Wolfe

Gwendolyn Angel Brown Wolfe, age 84, of Clinton passed away Monday, April 14, 2014 at her home.

Gwendolyn was born March 5, 1930, in Johnson City, Tenn., to the late James Andrew and Mary Kathleen Starnes Angel. She attended the East Tennessee State University Training School, was a graduate of Washington Academy High School, and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Lincoln Memorial University in 1952. She married Donley Clark Brown “Browny,” now deceased, in a church wedding in 1954. Browny was so proud to have Gwen on his arm.

Gwendolyn also found love again later in life and married Harold E. Wolfe on Oct. 30, 1993, at First United Methodist Church. She was employed with the Atomic Energy Commission and Energy Research and Development Administration, which evolved to the Department of Energy, from 1952-1986 working in public relations, the Office of Assistant Manager for Research and Development, and was the executive secretary to the manager from 1971-1986, when she retired early to help with the care of her ailing husband, who battled leukemia. [Read more…]

Obituary: Mary Elizabeth ‘Liz’ Collins

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Liz Collins

Liz Collins

Mary Elizabeth “Liz” Collins, age 84, of Oak Ridge, Tennessee went to Heaven to be with her Lord on April 14, 2014.

She was born in Hermitage, Tenn., on Feb. 20, 1930 to parents John and Gracie McNelley.

She was head of housekeeping at NHC, Oak Ridge, from its opening in 1978 until 1988, when she resigned to care for her husband until his death in 1991. She was a faithful member of Calvary Baptist Church for over 50 years where she taught Sunday School.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Ernest “Ernie” Collins, and daughter-in-law, Angela Collins. [Read more…]

Obituary: Tom ‘Bill’ Fowler

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Tom “Bill” Fowler passed away Monday, April 14, at National Health Care Nursing Home in Oak Ridge.

Tom was retired from Oak Ridge National Laboratory as a code developer and served in the South Pacific with the United States Marines. Tom joined ORNL Nuclear Reactor Physics Division in 1953 and was a leader of the Code Development Group and  co-authored numerous articles on code development. He retired in 1981. [Read more…]

Obituary: Danny Warwick

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Danny Warwick age, age 53, of Andersonville, passed away suddenly on Saturday, April 12, 2014, at his home in Andersonville.

Danny was a member of New Home Baptist Church. He enjoyed riding four-wheelers, taking walks, and at one time, drove a race car at Atomic Raceway. He was a loving son, brother, and uncle. Danny was preceded in death by his father, Earl Warwick and his brother, Gary Warwick. [Read more…]

Obituary: J.C. Potts

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

J.C. Potts, age 92, a resident of Oliver Springs, passed away Wednesday, April 9, 2014, at his home.

Mr. Potts was born April 12, 1921 in Scott County, Tenn. Following his military discharge in 1945, he moved to Oliver Springs, where he has continued to live. Mr. Potts was a member of Kelly Town Baptist Church.

Mr. Potts entered into the United States Army and served his country during World War II. He received the American Theater Ribbon with three Bronze Stars, the WWII Victory Medal, and several other medals, decorations, and citations.

Before his retirement in 1982, he was employed as a truck driver, at both the X-10 and Y-12 federal plants, for 26 years. [Read more…]

Obituary: Johnny R. Johnson

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Johnny R. Johnson

Johnny R. Johnson

Johnny R. Johnson, age 81, of Oak Ridge, went to be with the Lord Sunday, April 13, at Methodist Medical Center, surrounded by his loving family, friends, and Pastor Brian Scott.

He was born Oct. 29, 1932, in Dayton, Tenn., the son of Claude and Gertrude Morgan Johnson.

Mr. Johnson served in the Tennessee National Guard and the U.S. Army from 1949 to 1966 and served in the Korean War. He worked at the K-25 plant for 30 years and at the Y-12 plant for 17 years, retiring in December 1999. He loved fishing, flower gardening, holiday get-togethers, and visiting with friends and family. He was a member of Robertsville Baptist Church. [Read more…]

Obituary: Virginia Christenbery McFadden

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Virginia Christenbery McFadden

Virginia Christenbery McFadden

Virginia Christenbery McFadden, born on May 9, 1918 in Knoxville, the daughter of Dr. William Frederick “W.F.” and Rosamond Lee Clark Christenbery, passed away at Tennova Residential Hospice in Knoxville on April 13, Palm Sunday, at the age of 95.

Virginia is a descendant of the Christenbery family that lived in the Wheat community in Oak Ridge before the creation of the Manhattan Project. Many of her relatives are buried outside the George Jones Memorial Church, known locally as “the Wheat Church.”

Virginia was a graduate of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and was pursuing a master’s degree in home economics when she met her husband, William Steele McFadden. After a two-week courtship, they began their 70-year marriage, which ended in March of 2010 when he passed away at age 97. She helped him grow a family construction business and served as his accountant, partner, cheerleader, member of his building crew, rental property agent, and mother of four children.

They were active members in Fountain City Presbyterian Church for many years where she sang in the choir and occasionally played the music for services. [Read more…]

Obituary: Derrell Malcolm Shores

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Derrell Malcolm Shores

Derrell Malcolm Shores

Derrell Malcolm Shores, age 77, of Clinton, and formerly of Cocoa Beach, Fla., passed away Wednesday, April 9, 2014, at the Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge.

He was born May 1, 1936, in Nocatee, Fla., the son of Corine Shores. After graduation from high school, he entered the United States Air Force, where he served until 1963.

He retired from Publix Grocery Store in Cocoa Beach, Fla., where he was store manager. He had worked with Publix Grocery Stores in many locations for 36 years.

He and his wife, Judy Hillis King Shores, came to Oak Ridge from Cocoa Beach, Fla., eight years ago. They would have celebrated their 26th wedding anniversary on May 18. After his retirement, he began playing golf, a sport he learned to love passionately. He was also an avid reader. [Read more…]

Obituary: Mary Lynn Dickson Frazier Gaines

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Mary Lynn Dickson Frazier Gaines

Mary Lynn Dickson Frazier Gaines

Mary Lynn Dickson Frazier Gaines, a longtime resident of Oak Ridge, passed into the loving arms of Jesus on April 9, 2014, after suffering a short illness. Mrs. Gaines’ life spanned all or portions of 10 decades.

She was born in Henderson County, Tenn., to Earl D. and Ethel Dickson. Mrs. Gaines came to Oak Ridge in 1946 after marrying her first husband James Lee Frazier in August 1945. Mr. Frazier began work at the K-25 facility in October 1944 shortly after being discharged from the Army during World War II. Three children were born of this union, Lanny Frazier of Oak Ridge, Terry Frazier of Oak Ridge, and Sherry Frazier Harrison of Nashville, all survivors.

Mrs. Gaines was devoted to raising and taking care of her children. Mr. Frazier passed away in April, 1974, after 29 years of marriage.

Mrs. Gaines then married Samuel Lattimore Gaines, also a longtime resident of Oak Ridge and a World War II veteran. They were also married for 29 years until Mr. Gaines passed away in June 2005 at age 86.

At the time of her second marriage, adult stepchildren were added to the family, Elizabeth Harris of Fort Mill, S.C., Samuel L. Gaines of Knoxville, Keith Gaines of Knoxville, and Glenda McNeal of Oak Ridge, all surviving. [Read more…]

Obituary: Patricia S. (Johnson) Carroll

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Patricia S. Johnson Carroll

Patricia S. (Johnson) Carroll

Patricia S. (Johnson) Carroll, age 61, passed away on April 6 at Methodist Medical Center after a brave battle with cancer.

She was born in Paris, France, in 1953, the daughter of Bill Johnson of Dayton, Tenn., and Clara Johnson, of Paris, France. Patricia attended Oak Ridge High School during her junior year and was involved in the Sub-Debs. She graduated from Nurnberg American High School in Nurnberg, Germany, in 1971. She has called Oak Ridge her home since 1972.

Mrs. Carroll was employed with U.S. Nuclear from 1974 to 1977. In 1977, she began her career at the Y-12 facility, where she was employed as a senior procedure specialist until her passing. Mrs. Carroll greatly enjoyed the people she worked with and the many friendships she made. As a parent, Mrs. Carroll was involved in Girl Scouts, Girls’ Club softball, and Oak Ridge High School Marching Band. She loved gardening and needlepoint. [Read more…]