Oak Ridge Today

Obituary: Van Buren Seiber

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Van Buren "Van B" Seiber

Van Buren Seiber

Van Buren “Van B” Seiber, age 87, a resident of the Frost Bottom Community in Anderson County, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2014, at Methodist Medical Center in Oak Ridge.

Mr. Seiber was born March 26, 1926, in Harlan, Ky. He and his family moved to Oliver Springs in his early years, where he had continued to live.

He entered the United States Navy and bravely served his country during the Second World War. While serving, he received several medals, citations, badges, and awards.

Van was a retired master brick mason and his greatest hobby was working. He also enjoyed reading, discussing politics, telling stories about the old times, flying his airplane, and traveling. [Read more…]

Obituary: Hargus Pearl Church Sr.

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Hargus Pearl Church of Oliver Springs completed his life’s journey on Friday, Jan. 10, following a lengthy illness. He had been a resident of Ben Atchley State Veterans’ Home since July 2013. He was 88 years old.

He was born in Jewel Ridge, W.V., and later moved to Pine Creek, Va., where he grew up. He joined the Marine Corps at the age of 17 and had his 18th birthday at Paris Island. Following boot camp, he was sent to Philadelphia Naval Yard to serve as a guard. Disappointed at not being sent overseas to fight for his country, he went AWOL…not running away from battle, but running TO it… and hitchhiked from Philadelphia to San Francisco, where he turned himself in, explaining that he didn’t want to sit out the war in the states while others were fighting. After three months in the brig, he got his wish and was shipped out to the South Pacific, where he fought in several campaigns before being wounded in combat on Okinawa. He was awarded a Purple Heart and letter of commendation.

After the war, he married his childhood sweetheart, Zella Dye. They moved to Tennessee in 1949 and he went to work at the Oak Ridge Nuclear Facility, where he worked for many years, as well as running his own tire retreading business. [Read more…]

Obituary: Andrew Calvin Griggs

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Andrew C. Griggs

Andrew C. Griggs

Andrew Calvin Griggs, age 58, of Knoxville passed away Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2014, at his home.

Andrew was born in Oak Ridge on Jan. 24, 1955, to the late Ernie T. and Mattie Lynn Mynatt Griggs. He graduated Oak Ridge High School in 1973. Andrew entered active duty with the United States Army on Jan. 2, 1975, and served as a multi-channel communications equipment operator until his honorable discharge from active duty on Dec. 13, 1976.

A member of the Claxton Church of Christ, Andrew was employed for many years as a master welder and enjoyed music and collecting. [Read more…]

Obituary: Terri Lynn Cornett

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Terri Lynn Cornett

Terri Lynn Cornett

Terri Lynn Cornett, age 53, passed away peacefully and quietly at Golden Living Nursing Home on Sunday Jan. 5, 2014.

She was born Jan. 8, 1960, in Oak Ridge and continued to be a lifelong resident. Terri worked for the State of Tennessee as an administrative assistant for the Department of Children’s Services. She was an avid lover of animals and greatly enjoyed sports, including years of playing softball for local church leagues.

Terri was preceded in death by a sister, Cheryl Cornett, and both maternal and paternal grandparents Rufus and Deloris Cornett and George and Gertrude Ogle. [Read more…]

Obituary: April Elizabeth Bailey

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April Elizabeth Bailey

April Elizabeth Bailey

April Elizabeth Bailey, age 29, of Clinton, passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her family on Sunday, Jan. 5, 2014.

She was a loving mother, sister, and daughter. April was outgoing, enjoyed gardening, collecting butterflies, and had a love for animals.

April was preceded in death by her grandparents, Irene Hoskins, Colt Hoskins, Letha Russell, and Clarence Pointer.

April is survived by her father and stepmother, J.B. Bailey and Gloria of Clinton; mother, Diane Lyons of Clinton; daughter, Callie Izabel, to whom she was devoted; brother, J.B. Bailey Jr. of Oak Ridge; sister, Amanda Loy and husband Joshua of Clinton; and three nieces, seven nephews, several aunts, uncles, and a host of other relatives and friends. [Read more…]

Obituary: Ellen Ruth Jeffers

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Ellen Ruth Jeffers

Ellen Ruth Jeffers

Ellen Ruth Jeffers, age 77, of Clinton, passed away early Thursday morning Jan. 2, 2014, at her home in Clinton.

Ellen was a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She enjoyed flower gardening and getting together with family and friends. Ellen was of the Baptist faith.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Jim and Caroline Phillips; husband, James Claude Jeffers; son, James Larry Jeffers; daughters, Katie Sue Jeffers and Joanne Clark; brothers, Joe, Henry, Isaac, Kelly, and Jim Aslinger and sisters, Peggy Wilson and Cora Cooper; grandson, Gregory Reynolds; and great-grandson, Austin Robbins. [Read more…]

Obituary: Glenwood L. Davis

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Glenwood L. Davis

Glenwood L. Davis

Glenwood L. Davis, 94, of Oak Ridge, passed away Thursday, Jan. 2, 2014, at NHC Health Care Center.

He was born Nov. 15, 1919, in Lebanon, Ky., the son of Frank M. Davis and Viola Hundley Davis.

He had lived in Oak Ridge for 68 years and was a former member of United Church Chapel on the Hill and First Christian Church.

Mr. Davis served in the U.S. Army Enlisted Reserve from 1939-1942, the Royal Canadian Air Force from 1940-1942, and the United States Navy from 1942–1945. [Read more…]

Obituary: Vincent Tillman

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Vincent Tillman

Vincent Tillman

Vincent Tillman, age 51, of Knoxville, passed away suddenly on Monday, Dec. 30, 2013, at St. May’s Physician’s Regional Hospital in Knoxville.

He had a very caring heart and was loved by all who knew him. He was a loving son, brother, uncle, and friend. Vincent was an alumnus of the University of Notre Dame and a longtime employee of SAIC. He loved computers and knew 20 different computer languages. His favorite game was Maple Story. Vincent enjoyed gardening, cooking, and karaoke. He also loved his dog JoJo and cat Loretta.

Vincent was everyone’s greatest champion. [Read more…]

Obituary: Robert John Luxmoore

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Robert John Luxmoore

Robert John Luxmoore

Died quietly on Jan. 4, 2014 while surrounded by loving family and friends at home in Solomon Hollow, near Coalfield, Tenn., of complications from metastatic cancer.

He was born on Nov. 7, 1940, in Adelaide, Australia. Bob attended Unley High School and graduated from the University of Adelaide with a B.Ag.Sc. degree in 1962 and with a B.Ag.Sc (Hons.) degree in agronomy in 1963. After completing a three-year term as a research officer in the South Australian Department of Agriculture, he earned a PhD degree in soil physics at the University of California, Riverside in 1969.

His early career included post-doctoral assignments at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; University of California, Riverside; and the University of Wisconsin, Madison. This experience led to a 28-year career at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where he undertook environmental research of soils and whole-plant physiology. He was recognized as a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in 1985 and a fellow of the Soil Science Society of America in 1988 for his published research contributions as well as national and international professional activities. [Read more…]

Obituary: Donald Elmer Kirchner

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Donald Elmer Kirchner

Donald Elmer Kirchner

Donald Elmer Kirchner, age 80, of Knoxville, passed away Saturday, Jan. 4, 2014, at Parkwest Medical Center.

He was born April 15, 1933, in Kankakee, Ill., the son of Elmer and Clara Buffum Kirchner.

Mr. Kirchner was a veteran serving with the U.S. Army from 1953–1955.

He attended Calvary Lighthouse United Pentecostal Church in Oak Ridge. He was an accomplished carpenter and a master mechanic. [Read more…]