Oak Ridge Today

Obituary: Henry ‘Hank’ Story McKown

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Henry McKown

Henry McKown

Henry Story McKown died at the age of 94 on August 29, 2015.

A celebration of his life will be held September 12 at 2:30 p.m. at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church, 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

Hank worked at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and he was a charter member of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Church. He volunteered with Greenways of Oak Ridge and the American Museum of Science and Energy.

He leaves behind Helen, his wife of 68 years, and four daughters: Louise of Oak Ridge; Elizabeth of Grand Forks, North Dakota; Anne of Dripping Springs, Texas; and Jean of Solebury, Pennsylvania. [Read more…]

Albert Turner, a former Clinton Council member, police officer, dies at 68

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Albert Oscar Turner

Albert Oscar Turner

Albert Turner, a former Clinton City Councilman and longtime member of the Clinton Police Department, died at his home on Sunday. He was 68.

Turner served two terms on the Clinton City Council, and he served as a Clinton police officer for 26 years.

His family will receive friends next Wednesday, September 9, from noon to 2 p.m. at Jones Mortuary in Clinton. His funeral service will follow in the chapel of Jones Mortuary with Rev. Bill Caldwell officiating. His interment will follow his services at Mt. Sinai Baptist Church Cemetery in Clinton.

Jones Mortuary in Clinton is in charge of all arrangements. Condolences can be made to the family at www.jonesmortuaryllc.com.

Read the full obituary here.

Obituary: Era Leta Hobdy Orrison

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Era Leta Hobdy Orrison, 93, died Saturday afternoon, August 15, at her home at Galleria Woods Retirement Community, in Hoover, Alabama, from natural causes.

A native of Scottsville, Kentucky, Mrs. Orrison came to Oak Ridge in October 1943 to work for Tennessee Eastman Company. She met Robert “Bob” Garrett Orrison in Norris in March 1944, and they married in Scottsville in September 1944. They bought one of the first lots for sale by the city in 1956 and built their house on Delaware Avenue.

Mrs. Orrison raised five children through the Oak Ridge School system and all obtained undergraduate degrees from Auburn University.

Mrs. Orrison, a founding member of St. Stephens Episcopal Church, remained active in their ministries for 60 years.

Read the full obituary here.

Obituary: Dan Wilken

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Dan Wilken, of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, died at home on August 14, 2015. He faced cancer with dignity and determination, and through it all he managed to maintain a sense of humor and a positive attitude.

He was born in Kankakee, Illinois, on June 30, 1947, to the late Pauline and Harold Wilken. He was a graduate of Bishop McNamara High School and Northern Illinois University, where he earned a bachelor of science degrees in economics and marketing, and a master’s of business administration. He served in the National Guard for six years.

In 1970, he married his high school prom date Karen (Neville) and they recently celebrated their 45th wedding anniversary.

Read the full obituary here.

 

Obituary: Oran Wayne Farrar

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Oran Wayne Farrar, age 99, of Oak Ridge, passed away Tuesday, August 18, 2015, at the Methodist Medical Center.

He was born January 4, 1916, in Eva, Tennessee, the son of Thomas H. and Effie Sykes Farrar.

Mr. Farrar was a veteran of World War II, serving with the U.S. Army.

He retired from the Department of Energy where he was captain of security patrol.

Read the full obituary here.

Obituary: Joseph R. Morin

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Joseph R. Morin, age 73, of Harriman, died Friday, August 21, 2015.

Born in Jackmann, Maine, on August 11, 1942, Joe left to join the Army and served in the Viet Nam War from 1966-1967.

He retired from TVA fossil fuel plant in Kingston, Tennessee, and previously worked for Rust Engineering at the plants in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, as an electrician.

He was a member of the IBEW Local 270, where he also served as job stewart and business agent.

Read the full obituary here.

Obituary: Richard Bertram Schappel

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Richard Bertram Schappel, age 93, entered into the Kingdom of Heaven on Tuesday, July 7, 2015.

He was lovingly welcomed by his late wife, Elleen Starr Rhodes Schappel; his parents Bertram E. and Agnes (Koch) Schappel; his brother Robert E. Schappel of Pasco, Washington; and his sister, Marion Schappel of New York.

Mr. Schappel, or “Bert,” as he was called by all those lucky enough to know him, was a giving, self-less and honorable man. He was born March 20, 1922, in Brooklyn, New York. Bert served in World War II with the U.S. Army, after which he worked his way through college at the University of Texas. [Read more…]

Obituary: Franklin Walter Hensley

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Franklin Walter Hensley, age 82, of Oak Ridge, passed away Saturday, July 25, at his home. He was born February 8, 1933, in Richmond, Virginia, to Leonard and Marie Hensley. He is survived by Mary Katherine, his wife of 59 years.

Frank has two daughters, Gina (Ross) Jagim of Falls Church, Virginia, and Carol (Terry) Smith of Clinton; one brother, L. Charles Hensley of Oak Ridge; six grandchildren, Nathan, Aaron, Rachel, and Taylor Helton, and Ken and Nick Jagim; and two great grandchildren, Leo Helton, and Meela Spoelstra.

Frank served in the U.S. Army and was a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, with an engineering degree in 1964. He resided in Oak Ridge for 48 years and was an advocate for Tennessee scenic wilderness areas. Frank was a devoted conservationist who knew and loved the wild, natural lands, and waters of the Oak Ridge Reservation, the Obed Wild and Scenic River (WSR) and Upper Cumberland Plateau. He worked tirelessly on preserving, protecting, and enjoying all of these areas he treasured. [Read more…]

Obituary: Joshua Lee Buckham

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Joshua Lee Buckham, 28, passed away unexpectedly on July 26, 2015, in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

Joshua was born in Orange Park, Florida, to his loving parents.

He is survived by his parents, Ronald and Karin Buckham; his sister, Stefanie Buckham; his grandmother, Barbara Kennedy; and his grandparents, Peter Josef and Marianne. Joshua lived in Clinton, Tennessee, with his family. [Read more…]

Obituary: Rena Swany

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Rena Martin Swany, born July 12, 1921, passed away peacefully at Diversicare Health Care Facility on July 26, 2015, after a brief illness.

She moved to Oak Ridge in 1957 to work for Oak Ridge Institute for Nuclear Studies as a secretary at the Museum of Atomic Energy. Later, O.R.I.N.S. became part of Oak Ridge Associated Universities, and she
became a highly respected office manager there. She retired from ORAU in 1985.

In 1940, at age 18, she became society editor at the Daily Post Athenian in Athens, Tennessee. She also attended Tennessee Wesleyan College in Athens.

She went on to work at the Draft Board in Maryville, Tennessee, during World War II. She later worked at the University of Tennessee in the Sciences Department and attended UT.

Read the full obituary here.

Obituary: Sue Andrews McKinnon Ross

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Sue Andrews McKinnon Ross, age 93, passed away peacefully July 19, 2015, at her retirement center in Downers Grove, Illinois.

Sue was born August 27, 1921, in Hohenwald, Tennessee, to George and Eula Mae Andrews, one of nine brothers and sisters. She grew up in the Great Depression in Turrell, Arkansas, where she met and married Joe Wallace McKinnon.

At the time of his death they were living in Columbia, Tennessee, where during the war years, she worked for Monsanto Corp. in a chemical factory. She loved to tell stories of driving the large cranes and swinging the huge phosphate loads around. [Read more…]

Obituary: Nonavea B. Rodgers

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Nonavea B. Rodgers went to her heavenly home July 27, 2015.

She was a charter member of New Life Nazarene Church in Oak Ridge, worshiping there for the last 64 years. She was a resident of Oak Ridge for 53 years where she raised her family and worked for the U.S. Department of Energy.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Willard Eugene Rodgers; daughter Linda Gail, and her precious great-grandson Liam Ellison Davis. She is survived by her son Dr. Larry Edwin, daughters Deborah Molsbee and Donna Bullen, as well as seven loving grandchildren and 13 cherished great-grandchildren.

Read the full obituary here.