Oak Ridge Today

Obituary: Peggy Sproles Sisson

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Peggy Sproles Sisson, age 85, a resident of Oliver Springs, passed away Tuesday, July 7, 2015, at her home.

Peggy was a loving mother, grandmother, and friend to many. She was born October 16, 1929, in Bonnie Blue, Virginia, to her parents Elmer and Hettie Ann Sproles. Peggy and her family moved to Oak Ridge, Tennessee, in the 1940s.

Peggy was a faithful Christian and a member of Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church, a former receptionist at R.T. Clapp Car Care Center, and registrar for the TN School of Beauty.

Read the full obituary here.

Obituary: Janet Clayton

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Janet Clayton, age 83, a resident of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, died Saturday, July 4, 2015, at her home.

She was born in Washington, D.C., and with her family, she moved to Oak Ridge, Tennessee, in 1944. She attended and graduated from Oak Ridge High School and the University of Tennessee.

Ms. Clayton worked for the Oak Ridge City Schools in the Accounting Department and for E.F. McDonald, CPA-EA, office until her retirement.

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Obituary: David Wayne Davenport

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David Wayne Davenport, age 43, a resident of Oliver Springs, passed away Friday, July 3, 2015, at home.

David grew up in Kingston and was a former electrician. During his free time, his hobbies included riding his motorcycle, genealogy, reading his Bible, and listening to Celtic music. He was a member of Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church.

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Obituary: Suzanne Thurston Ricks

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Suzanne Thurston Ricks, 72, of Oak Ridge, passed away Thursday, July 9, 2015, at her home.

She was born August 6, 1942, in New Orleans, Louisiana, the daughter of George W. and Anne Kelly Thurston.
Ms. Ricks worked for many years as an executive assistant to the president of Roane State Community College. She retired from SAIC in 2009 after 17 years of service.

She was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church and a passionate supporter of the Emory Valley Center, Second Harvest Food Bank, the American Heart Association, St. Jude Catholic School in Chattanooga, and the Children’s Advocacy Center of Hamilton County.

Read the full obituary here.

Obituary: Anthony Vernon Wilson

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Anthony Vernon Wilson, of Knoxville, was born May 3, 1957, in Lake City, Tennessee. He went home to be with his LORD and Savior on July 9, 2015, at Kindred Specialty Hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee, after an extensive illness.

Read the full obituary here.

Obituary: Harold Craig ‘Skip’ Reed

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Harold Craig “Skip” Reed, age 65, of Oak Ridge, passed away Monday, June 29, 2015, at his home.

He was the only child of the late Herbert Arthur and Betty June Barker Reed. He lived most of his life in Oak Ridge, with brief periods spent in Florida, Texas, and California. He is survived by his wife of almost 28 years, Alice Hoffman Reed.

He was a life-long learner and trainer of various subjects. He was an announcer for WSEV, WRKH, and WATE. He graduated from East Tennessee State University with a B.S. degree in criminal justice. He served with the Knoxville Police Department as a patrol officer, motorcycle police officer, and their youngest homicide detective. He also served as a police officer in Dade County, Florida.

He then became a teacher/demonstrator for the U.S. Department of Energy, presenting programs on energy. Because of his unique presentation style, he became a trainer at SAIC to teach the regulations concerning the transportation of hazardous and radioactive materials.

Read the full obituary here.

Obituary: Madge Dyer ‘Sunshine’ Newton

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Madge Elizabeth “Sunshine” Dyer Newton, 91, of Oak Ridge, passed away July 06, 2015, in Knoxville, Tennessee. Madge was born November 11, 1923, in Powell, Tennessee, to Isaac and Lillian Dyer.

Madge was a long-time employee of Union Carbide Martin Marietta, where she worked as a secretary for more than 30 years.

Madge graduated from Karns High School in May 1942. She attended business school and, within a year or two, was hired in at K-25 in the new city of Oak Ridge, only a few miles from her home. She was one of the original “Girls of Atomic City,” the book of that name.

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Obituary: Patricia J. Hildebrandt

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Patricia J. (Kesterson) Hildebrandt, age 66, of Oliver Springs, Tennessee, passed away on Thursday, July 2, 2015 at the Methodist Medical Center in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

Patricia enjoyed crocheting, playing cards, and watching the Georgia Bulldogs.

Read the full obituary here.

Obituary: Steven Lynn ‘Pops’ Rhodey

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Steve Rhodey, “Pops,” age 65, of Clinton, passed away Thursday, July 2, 2015, at his home.

Steve loved spending time with his grandkids and family. He also loved “MeMe,” his buddy!

Steve played softball for 25 years, was a TSSAA umpire for high school baseball and softball, and referee for little league and high school basketball. He enjoyed watching his son play football with the Optimist and Clinton High School.

Steve enjoyed dirt track racing. He took care of the Sunday music for WYSH, and was a member of Poplar Creek Baptist Church in the Marlow community.

Read the full obituary here.

Obituary: Amy T. Tamura

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Amy T. Tamura, of Oak Ridge, passed away Wednesday, July 1, 2015.

Amy grew up in Hawaii, where she attended the University of Hawaii and received degrees in chemistry. Her first job as a chemist was with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. She worked on the Oriental Fruit Fly Investigation. During World War II, fruit flies had invaded the Hawaiian Islands from southern islands. They were attacking and destroying crops.

Amy’s second job was with the University of Wisconsin’s Zoology Department. She worked in the area of endocrinology during the time that her husband was there completing his PhD in soil chemistry.

Amy remained home while her three sons were growing up. When the youngest son graduated from high school, she applied for a job as a chemist with the U.S. Civil Service. While waiting to hear from them, she audited courses in chemistry at the University of Tennessee and also took language classes in Japanese and Chinese. An offer for a chemist position came in 1980 from the Department of Energy at the Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI). She worked there for 17 years.

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Obituary: Betty Olin Robinson

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Betty Olin Robinson passed away on July 3, 2015, at Greenfield Senior Living, after suffering a stroke.

Betty was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother, and she touched many lives with her caring and giving spirit. She was an amazing woman, and enjoyed a very full life.

She was born March 21, 1918, in Kalamazoo County, Michigan, the daughter of Seymour and Louise Olin. After graduation from Western Michigan University and further work at Michigan State University and the University of Chicago, she taught at Lewiston and Dowagiac, Michigan.

In late 1944, she was married to the late Berwyn “Robbie” Robinson and they moved to New York City, where he worked in the Atomic Energy Commission’s early Manhattan District project. Later, they were moved to the Niagara Falls site and the Fernald, Ohio, site before settling at the Oak Ridge office in 1957.

Read the full obituary here.

Obituary: Chief Sam Bailey Jr.

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Chief Sam Bailey Jr., age 54, of Rocky Top, Tennessee, was surrounded by all of his loved ones when the angels came to take him to enter the pearly gates to be with his heavenly father on Sunday, June 28, 2015.

He was a loving son, brother, husband, father, papaw, uncle, great uncle, friend and a walking testimony to all. He also cherished spending time with his family, and enjoyed riding his Harley motorcycle with his wife, Regina.

Chief Bailey was the fire chief of Rocky Top fire department for 13 years. He was a faithful, devoted Christian man to Laurel Branch Baptist Church in Briceville, Tennessee. He also loved gospel bluegrass. Chief Bailey was the owner of Sambo’s Music Store and enjoyed picking music with his picking buddies.

Read the full obituary here.