Oak Ridge Today

Esther Leota Simes O’Bleness

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Esther Leota Simes O'Bleness

Esther Leota Simes O’Bleness

Esther Leota Simes O’Bleness, age 102, of Oak Ridge, was born July 25, 1910, in Wheatland, Wyo., and passed away Tuesday, March 19, at Greenfield Assisted Living, where she had been a resident for many years.

She and her husband Oscar “O.E.” O’Bleness lived in many states before coming to Knoxville and then moved to Oak Ridge in the early 1950s. She and her husband eloped Aug. 6, 1928, in Pryor, Okla. They had been married 65 years at the time of his death.

Esther was a legend at Kimball’s Jewelry Store, which she managed for many years before her retirement. She was also a jewelry appraiser. Upon moving into Greenfield Assisted Living, she ran the gift shop for several years.

She and her husband were longtime active members of Trinity United Methodist Church and were involved in many of the church activities until it closed in 2008, at which time her membership was transferred to the First United Methodist Church. She was a 50 year member of the Order of the Eastern Star, Chapter #390. [Read more…]

Bobbie Jean Tucker

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Bobbie Jean Tucker, age 74, a resident of Oliver Springs, passed away, Wednesday, March 20, at Methodist Medical Center.

Mrs. Tucker was born Sept. 29, 1938, in Oliver Springs. She was a lifelong resident of this area.

Bobbie Jean was a homemaker, a loving mother, and grandmother who enjoyed attending car races. She was of the Baptist faith. [Read more…]

Fred C. ‘Tiger’ Douglas Jr.

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Fred C. Douglas, Jr.

Fred C. Douglas Jr.

Fred C. “Tiger” Douglas Jr., age 42, of Oak Ridge, died Sunday, March 17, at Methodist Medical Center.

He was born July 7, 1970, in Oak Ridge, the son of the late Fred C. Douglas Sr. and Mary K. Bounds Douglas.

Fred was a student at the Emory Valley Center, and he worked in the Center’s workshop. He enjoyed cooking and dancing. He also enjoyed listening to music. Gospel music was one of his favorites. [Read more…]

Thomas Douglas McNair

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Thomas Douglas McNair, age 67, of Oliver Springs, passed away, Tuesday, March 19, at Methodist Medical Center.

Mr. McNair was born on April 22, 1945, in Chattanooga. He was a self-employed carpenter.

Mr. McNair was preceded in death by his parents, Wilmer A. and Folabelle McNair, and by brothers, Wilmer A. Jr. and Donald R. McNair. [Read more…]

Dorothy (Dot) Bearden Walker

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Dorothy Bearden Walker

Dorothy Bearden Walker

Dorothy (Dot) Bearden Walker, 93, of Oak Ridge, passed away Tuesday, March 19, at NHC of Oak Ridge, where she had been a resident since December 2008.

She was a member of Robertsville Baptist Church in Oak Ridge.

Born in Nashville, daughter of W.C. and Gladys Bearden, she moved to Oak Ridge with her first husband, William Knoch, and children in 1949. She began working at the former Hamilton National Bank at the Grove Center facility in 1952 and retired after 28 years in 1980. She married Jack Walker in 1978.

Dot was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Jack Walker Sr.; son, Charles Knoch; and grandson, Kenneth Kennedy. [Read more…]

Oveline Borum Galbraith

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Oveline Borum Galbraith

Oveline Borum Galbraith

Oveline Borum Galbraith, age 94, a resident of Oliver Springs, passed away, Tuesday, March 19, at N.H.C. of Oak Ridge.

Mrs. Galbraith was born July 12, 1918, in Roane County. She was a lifelong resident of this area.

She was a faithful Christian and a member of Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church. She loved her family and enjoyed cooking and caring for them. She was employed at the Roane Hosiery Mill for 25 years before her retirement.

Mrs. Galbraith was preceded in death by her husbands, Denton Borum and Claude Galbraith; by a daughter, Pauline “Polly” Barnett; by a grandson, Terry Barnett; by parents, Roscoe and Minnie Coker Reynolds; by brothers, Tolly, Bill, Floyd, Earl, and Joe Reynolds; and by sisters, Lucille Cox, Erma Lee Cromwell, Ada Edwards, and Nadine Jewett. [Read more…]

Annie Gordon

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Annie Gordon

Annie Gordon

On March 15, Annie Gordon, lifelong resident of Oak Ridge, passed away peacefully in Evergreen, Colo. She had just celebrated her 82nd birthday on March 5.

She is survived by her son, Jim Gordon; his wife, Elizabeth; and their four children Christi, Abi, Ali, and Willie.

Annie lived in the mountain community of Evergreen at Elk Run Assisted Living, where she enjoyed seeing lots of elk and wildlife, snowy winters, and spending time with her grandchildren and family. [Read more…]

Benjamin Park Birdwell

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Benjamin Park Birdwell

Benjamin Park Birdwell

Dr. Benjamin Park Birdwell, 33, died on Tuesday, March 19, from injuries resulting from a tragic automobile accident.

Ben was a clinical psychologist practicing in Cleveland, Tenn. Ben graduated from the Christian Academy of Knoxville and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Tennessee. He then attended Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, Calif., where he received master’s degrees in both psychology and theology. Upon receiving his Ph.D. in clinical psychology from Fuller, he joined an established group practice in Cleveland. His counseling touched many lives.

Ben leaves his wife and the love of his life, Melissa McAmis Birdwell, and four beautiful children: Jack Austin, 15, Samuel Park, 12, Abigail Susannah, 8, and Sadie Caroline, 3, of Cleveland. [Read more…]

Lois Elaine Kunselman

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Lois Elaine Kunselman

Lois Elaine Kunselman

Lois Elaine Kunselman, age 91, of Clinton, went home to her Lord on Sunday, March 17, 12 days after celebrating her 69th wedding anniversary with her loving husband, Maurice Kunselman, who was by her side until she peacefully crossed over.

Born Nov. 10, 1921, in Shreveport, La., Lois was salutatorian of her Wynne, AK, graduating class of 1939. After a fulfilling, ambitious period working as a telephone operator, Lois met and married Maurice in Memphis in 1944. Much later, in her 50s, Lois received a combined degree in English and religious studies from the University of Tennessee.

She is preceded in death by her parents Joe and Mabel Miller, a son Philip Maurice Kunselman, two brothers Rev. James Miller and Eugene Flickner, and a sister Josephine Kitterman. [Read more…]

Paul Abraham Agron

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Paul Abraham Agron

Paul Abraham Agron

Paul Abraham Agron passed away on March 19 at Methodist Medical Center. He was 98 years old.

Paul was preceded in death by his wife of nearly 70 years—Eleanor—just one year ago.

Born in New York in 1915 to Russian Jewish immigrants Jacob and Frieda Agronovich (later Agronow), Paul was brought up in Brooklyn and Queens along with his five younger siblings, two sisters, and three brothers. His parents spoke Yiddish at home, and Paul (“Abe”) learned to speak English by playing stickball in the street with the neighborhood children.

He later earned his bachelor’s degree and his master’s degree in chemistry from Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute of New York University, and he was awarded an honorary Ph.D. [Read more…]