Oak Ridge Today

Obituary: David L. Baker

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David L. Baker

David L. Baker

 

David L. Baker, 76, of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, passed away on March 16, 2017, due to health issues with family by his side.

David was born at home in Maryville, Tennessee, on February 2, 1941.

MSGT Baker retired from the U.S. Air Force after 20 years of service for his country. During his service time, he served in Vietnam, Philippines, Italy, and Thailand. He was stationed in numerous places around the world.

After his service, he came home to Oak Ridge, where he lived the rest of his days fishing. Many knew of him as “The Walking Man of Oak Ridge.” On March 16, 2017, David hung his walking shoes up for the last time. [Read more…]

Steve Jenkins, former finance director and deputy city manager, dies after battling cancer

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Steve Jenkins, former Oak Ridge finance director and deputy city manager, died Tuesday after battling cancer, according to his obituary. He was 67.

Jenkins grew up in Middlesboro, Kentucky, where he became a life-long University of Kentucky basketball fan. “He enjoyed nothing more than watching and attending UK games with his children and grandsons,” his obituary said.

Jenkins graduated from Clinton High School (1967) and the University of Tennessee (1971).

After beginning his career in finance at Carson Newman College, he moved his family to Oak Ridge, where he began a 26-year career at the City of Oak Ridge as finance director and deputy city manager.

After retiring from the city in 2012, Jenkins took a finance position at ETHRA in Knoxville, making many new friends who very caringly supported him through his illness, the obituary said. [Read more…]

Gene Caldwell—retired pediatrician, former state representative—dies at 84

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Photo courtesy Amanda Caldwell

Photo courtesy Amanda Caldwell

 

Note: This story was last updated at 10:40 a.m.

Dr. Gene Caldwell, a retired pediatrician and former Tennessee state representative, died Saturday, March 4. He was 84.

Caldwell, a beloved pediatrician who often said he was the luckiest guy in the world, died at NHC of Oak Ridge from congestive heart failure, according to his obituary. He would have turned 85 in 10 days.

Caldwell, a Democrat, served three terms in the Tennessee House of Representatives, representing the 33rd District from 1996 to 2002.

“Gene Caldwell was a great public servant and did much for our community,” said Tennessee Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally, an Oak Ridge Republican. “He will be missed, but his contributions will live on.”

The district lines have changed a bit since then, but at the time, the 33rd District included part of Anderson County, including Oak Ridge, Clinton, and Norris, said Jim Hackworth, who is also a former state representative in District 33. Caldwell preceded Hackworth.

“He was a good friend and will be sorely missed,” said Hackworth, who served the district for eight years.

Caldwell and his family had moved to Oak Ridge in 1966, when he began his practice with the Children’s Clinic of Oak Ridge. He retired in 1994 after 27 years. [Read more…]

Obituary: Samuel Wayne Provence

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Wayne Provence

Wayne Provence

 

Samuel Wayne Provence, age 84, passed away February 4, 2017, at the Christian Care Center in Mesquite, Texas.

Originally from the Ball Camp community in Knox County, he lived an humble life as a Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He and his wife, Pat, were married for 63 years and served Baptist churches in Tennessee and North Carolina.

Wayne graduated from Karns High School, and he held a Bachelor of Arts from Belmont University and a Master of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. [Read more…]

Obituary: Cora Juanita Braden

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Cora Juanita Braden

Cora Juanita Braden

 

Cora Juanita Braden, 86, of Oak Ridge passed away on February 13, 2017.

She was born in Swan Pond, Kentucky, on February 17, 1930, to parents Wymer C. Carter and Maymie Reynolds Carter.

Cora worked at Miller’s Department Store as credit manager.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Wymer C. and Maymie Carter; husband, Wiley G. Braden in 2002; brother, Paul E. Carter; sister, Alma Ruth Williams; grandson, Christopher Wilson; and in-laws, Sue and Dion Braden. [Read more…]

Funeral arrangements announced for 3-year-old who died in crash

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Jason Robert Braden III

Jason Robert Braden III

Funeral arrangements have been announced for the three-year-old who died after a two-vehicle crash in Oak Ridge on Friday, January 13.

The crash occurred at about 5:20 p.m. January 13 at the intersection of Emory Valley Road and Lafayette Drive.

Jason Robert Braden III of Clinton died at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville from injuries sustained in the crash, according to his obituary.

It said Jason will be dearly missed by all his family. Jason loved to watch “Tom the Tow Truck” on his tablet, and his favorite dogs on “Paw Patrol” were Marshal and Chase. Jason’s favorite song was “Burning it Down,” and he loved his baby brother, Justyn. [Read more…]

Obituary: Billy Paul Sams

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Billy Paul Sams

Billy Paul Sams

 

Billy Sams, age 63, born September 9, 1953, died unexpectedly Saturday, January 7th, 2017, at his home in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

Billy grew up in Kingsport, Tennessee. He completed his doctorate of jurisprudence from the University of Tennessee in 1978. Billy was then a Captain in the Air Force, serving as a JAG from 1978 to 1982. Thereafter, he opened his law practice in Oak Ridge in 1982.

Billy will be sorely missed by his daughter Sara Sams and his bonus daughter Kendahl Seith Moore; his siblings Sandra Sams Ervin and husband Kenny, Lois Sams Young and husband Ralph, Margaret Sams Hickam and husband Jeff, and Wayne Sams and wife Jenny; his loving nieces and nephews; his loyal and trusty sidekick Becky Cox; and countless others.

Billy was a man of worldly knowledge and useless interesting trivia. A true lover of music, books, history, and thought, he was (in)famous for his personalized mixed tapes. [Read more…]

Obituary: Joseph M. Gambill

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Joseph Gambill

Joseph Gambill

 

Joseph Martin Gambill was born to Everett F. and Sara M. Gambill in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, on June 4, 1957. He passed away peacefully with his family by his side on January 13, 2017.

He lived in Port St. Lucie, Florida, and was married to Lynn Gambill for 28 years. He was a loving father to his son, Gregory Joseph Gambill.

He is also survived by his siblings, James (Allison) Gambill and Jane (Jim) Gambill; father and mother-in-law, Robert and Mary Ann Nosun; sisters and brothers-in-law, Peggy and Michael Coleman, and Kathy and Greg Killingsworth.

He is preceded in death by his parents Everett F. and Sara M. Gambill. [Read more…]

Former Oak Ridge Mayor Jerry Kuhaida dies at 74

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Jerry Kuhaida

Jerry Kuhaida

Former Oak Ridge Mayor Jerry Kuhaida died at home Monday after a hard-fought battle with Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia, according to his obituary. He was 74.

Kuhaida was elected to the Oak Ridge City Council twice, serving from 1991-1995 and from 1997-2003. He served one term as mayor.

Kuhaida continued his passion for community and local government development while serving as a consultant in Russia and working with the U.S. Agency for International Development/U.S. State Department, assisting the U.S. Army’s development efforts in Iraq, his obituary said.

Andrew “Jerry” Jerome Kuhaida Jr. was born on September 29, 1942, in Wheeling, West Virginia. He had bachelor’s and master’s degrees in geology and a doctorate in geography/geology, according to his obituary. He started his lengthy career in environmental restoration and hazardous waste remediation after returning to Oak Ridge in 1980, the obituary said. He served on several local boards and committees, including the Environmental Quality Advisory Board and the Scarboro Community Day Care Center Board. [Read more…]

Obituary: Beth Ann McLeod

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Beth Ann McLeod

Beth Ann McLeod

 

Beth Ann McLeod, age 52, of Clinton, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, September 16, after a long battle with Huntington’s disease. A wife, a mother, a sister, Beth enjoyed camping and anything outdoors, needlework and anything crafty. She loved watching Big Orange football and Peyton Manning. Beth was a gracious soul with an infectious giggle.

Beth was preceded in death by her parents, Geraldine (Ginger) Osborn and Philip A. Lanzarotta.

She is survived by her loving husband of 21 years Michael McLeod, daughter Savannah McLeod, and son Jacob McLeod, all of Clinton; brother Anthony and wife Diane Lanzarotta of Oak Ridge; and brother Jeff and wife Joyce Lanzarotta of Montevallo, Alabama. Beth is also survived by several nieces and nephews, and a host of other relatives and friends who will all miss her greatly. [Read more…]