Oak Ridge Today

Obituary: Patsy Joann (Prater) Hawk

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Patsy Joann (Prater) Hawk of Oak Ridge passed away September 8, 2014, at Norris Health and Rehabilitation Center. Patsy is finally in Paradise with her children.

She was preceded in death by her mother Onilee Walker Hahn; children Greg, Glenn, and Sandy Ryzski; and her husband Fred Hawk.

She is survived by stepdaughter Cheryl Hawk Redford, and husband Bill Redford. Her grandchildren include Joshua and Abby Redford. Her brother is Jerry Prater of Norris, Tennessee; and sisters are Judy Wells of Guildford, Indiana, and Dee Varner of Knoxville, Tennessee. [Read more…]

Obituary: Elmer David Smith Jr.

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Elmer David Smith

Elmer David Smith

Elmer David Smith Jr., aged 77, absent from the body and present with the Lord, passed away Monday, September 8, at his home in Oak Ridge.

He was born June 6, 1937, in Lee County, Virginia, to Elmer and Arminda Smith.

He graduated from Berea College in 1960, where he met his wife Edna Welte Smith. They were married August 6, 1961, at Danforth Chapel in Berea, Kentucky. He went on to earn a Master of Arts in Education from Eastern Kentucky State College in 1963.

Mr. Smith was a sergeant in the Army for two years during the Cold War training new recruits. He was a much-loved teacher in the Oak Ridge School system for over 30 years, teaching primarily fifth-grade students. In the 1970s, Mr. and Mrs. Smith started the Jack and Jill Childcare Center in Oak Ridge and operated it for nine years. [Read more…]

Obituary: Helen Lucille (Schultz) Lowery

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Helen Lucille Schultz Lowery

Helen Lucille Schultz Lowery

Helen Lucille (Schultz) Lowery, 87, of Oak Ridge, went to be with her Lord and Savior at her home on Saturday, September 6.

She was born on January 6, 1927 in Talbott, Tennessee, to the late Preston Monroe Schultz and Dora K. (Knight) Schultz. She was the last surviving of nine brothers and sisters.

She graduated from Morristown East High School in 1945, after which she came to Oak Ridge, working as a “Calutron Girl” at Y-12. She also worked at X-10 and K-25. On May 27, 1950, she married James Keith Lowery from Morristown.

A very active member of the Republican Party, she served as chairman of the Republican Party of Anderson County, secretary of Anderson County Election Commission, and vice president of the Election Commissioners East Tennessee State Board. She was honored on several occasions for her service, most recently receiving a “Lifetime Achievement” plaque presented by Zach Wamp and “Republican Woman of the Year” in 2012. [Read more…]

Obituary: Dennis ‘Denny’ Wayne Collins

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Dennis Wayne "Denny" Collins

Dennis “Denny” Wayne Collins

Dennis “Denny” Wayne Collins, 61, of Oak Ridge, passed away on Thursday, August 28.

He was born on September 12, 1952, in Chattanooga to parents Ernest and Mary “Liz” McNelley Collins.

Denny was self-employed as a carpenter and enjoyed bird watching, travel, being with friends, camping, and hiking.

He was a member of Calvary Baptist Church. [Read more…]

Obituary: Dominic John Tronolone

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Dominic John Tronolone

Dominic John Tronolone

Dominic John Tronolone, age 34, a resident of Deltona, Florida, died August 30, at home in his sleep.

Dominic was born August 1, 1980, in Knoxville. He grew up and lived in Powell and graduated from Clinton High School in 1998.

Dominic was a search engine optimizer, and he also ran an Internet jewelry business. He was a fun-loving person, and he loved being a kid, playing with his children, fishing, baseball, the University of Tennessee football team and his dogs.

He was preceded in death by his father, Douglas Tronolone, and by his grandmother, Elizabeth Covington. He is survived by his mother, Elizabeth Whitson Brown, and by his stepfather for most of his life, Christopher Brown.  [Read more…]

Obituary: Clark Madison Kent

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Clark Madison Kent

Clark Madison Kent

Clark Madison Kent, 46, of Knoxville, formerly of Oak Ridge, passed away on Tuesday, September 2.

He was born in Oak Ridge on October 22, 1968, to parents Cecilia Taylor Kent and Billy Joe Kent Sr.

Clark graduated from Oak Ridge High School and received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Mercer University in Atlanta, graduating magna cum laude. He worked for the University of Tennessee before his declining health. He loved animals, especially his precious dogs. [Read more…]

Obituary: Claude Jenkins

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Claude Jenkins

Claude Jenkins

Claude Jenkins died peacefully at Canterfield of Oak Ridge on Saturday, August 30, at the age of 93.

He grew up in Polk County and graduated from Polk County High School in 1939. Claude was accepted into the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1940 as a 19-year-old. He was stationed at CCC Company 494/ TVA 45 located in Norris, Tennessee. He is honored with a plaque on the site of the camp in what is now Norris Dam State Park.

Claude enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in July 1942 and served his country as a Marine until January 1946. He was a proud veteran of World War II, where he was stationed in the Pacific.

He married Jacquoleen Gregory in January 1947, and they relocated to Oak Ridge in 1951, where they lived until his death. [Read more…]

Obituary: Wilma Elizabeth Garten

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Wilma Elizabeth Garten

Wilma Elizabeth Garten

Wilma Elizabeth Garten, age 91, passed away Tuesday, September 2, at Greenfield Senior Living in Oak Ridge.

Wilma was born in Wood County, West Virginia. Prior to moving to Oak Ridge in 2004, she was a longtime resident of both Huntington and Parkersburg, West Virginia.

Wilma was the daughter of the late William Lafe Brand and Hazel Evans Brand. She was a graduate of Parkersburg High School.

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, C. Tom Garten; one sister, Ada I. Richards; one brother, Paul E. Brand; and one son, Joseph Albert Garten. [Read more…]

Obituary: Pauline ‘Polly’ Prewitt Rector

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Pauline Prewitt Rector

Pauline Prewitt Rector

Pauline Lambert Prewitt Rector, age 91, of Oak Ridge, passed away at her home after a long illness on Wednesday, September 3,  surrounded by family.

She was born July 2, 1923, in Bandy, Virginia, the daughter of Della Mae and Fred Oliver Lambert.

She pioneered in Oak Ridge from 1943 to 1945, moving to Mississippi until 1951 before returning to Oak Ridge until 1964. She then lived in Chattanooga until 1970 and Florida until 1989, when she again returned to Oak Ridge.

Polly was a member of Woodland Park Baptist Church. She was also a 50-year charter member of The Order of the Amaranth and its past Grand Royal Matron, State of Tennessee.  [Read more…]

Obituary: Char-lee Gaylor

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Char-lee Gaylor, infant daughter of Tamika Gaylor, passed away Sunday, August 31, at Methodist Medical Center.

Char-lee was born August 22, 2013, in Knoxville. She was a lifelong resident of Oliver Springs.

Char-lee was preceded in death by her great-grandfather, Randy Harness, and by cousins, Robert Lynn Gaylor and Goman E. Harness. [Read more…]