Torchbearer: Spring 1997

Deaths

(received by Jan. 6)

Zoe Copenhaver Burger '19, Dec. 29, 1996, Knoxville. She was a former teacher in the Knoxville city schools, retiring from Fulton High School in 1961.

Rosalie Shea Trinko '26, Nov. 11, 1996, Roanoke, Va. She retired from Roanoke public schools in 1970 after 17 years of service. While in retirement, she taught several years at Otterburn Academy in Bedford.

Louise C. Vanwinkle '28, Dec. 15, 1995, Covington, Ky.

Col. Eaton Wesley Bennett '31, Dec. 9, 1996, Little Rock, Ark. He was a staff physician at the State Hospital, Little Rock, from 1965 until his retirement in 1975, when he was recognized as an honorary professor of psychiatry. He was superintendent of the San Antonio State Hospital for eight years and was a fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. He commanded hospitals in the Pacific Theater during WWII. Among his campaign medals was the Bronze Star.

Paul M. Bell '32, Nov. 6, 1996, Storrs, Conn.

J. Mack Tucker '32, Nov. 6, 1996, Knoxville. He was a retired professor of mechanical engineering at UT.

Elizabeth Dooley Biggs '34, Sept. 28, 1996, Oak Ridge, Tenn. A devoted homemaker, she enjoyed reading and music.

Juanita Bently Moser '34, Oct. 16, 1996, Clinton, Tenn. She was retired from the Anderson County Schools.

Richard A. Higginbotham Sr. '35, Dec. 9, 1996, Knoxville. He was president of Higginbotham Automotive, which he founded in 1940. He was an Army veteran of WWII, having served in the Supreme Headquarters of the Allied Expeditionary Forces.

Dr. Jack S. Phelan '36, Dec. 3, 1996, Maryville, Tenn. He retired in 1975 as a Blount Memorial Employee Health Physician. He earned law and medical degrees and served in the European Theater of Operations with the U.S. Army during WWII. He was a member of the Tennessee Law Review Bar, Blount County Medical Society, Tennessee Medical Association, AMA, the American Academy of Occupational Medicine, and medical director of ALCOA's Tennessee operations. He was a member of the Knoxville Symphony from 1933 to 1940 and had a lifelong interest in photography and music.

William R. McKibbon '37, Nov. 28, 1996, Greenville, S.C. He was director of industrial relations at Stone Manufacturing Co. for 30 years before his retirement in 1990.

Theodore A. Sanders '37, Oct. 27, 1996, Knoxville. In 1968 he retired with more than 28 years service as a special agent with the FBI. In 1976 he joined the law practice of Dave Rogers in LaFollette, Tenn., which later became Rogers and Sanders. He practiced there for more than 10 years.

K.C. Dodson '38, June 18, 1996, Columbia, Tenn. He was a retired lobbyist and director of research and legislation at the Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation. During his 34 years of lobbying in the legislature, he was named most effective lobbyist on Capitol Hill by his peers. He was president of the UT National Alumni Association in 1963-64. He was a member of the forestry commission and 1981 Progressive Farmer man of the year in Tennessee agriculture. He was a veteran of WWII and a flight trainer in the Army Air Corps. He was a member of the Columbia Kiwanis Club.

Marietta Sharp Hamlin '38, Nov. 19, 1996, Little Rock, Ark.

Kathleen King Shofner '38, Sept. 7, 1996, Shelbyville, Tenn. While at UT, she was Miss Tennessee, a Torchbearer, member of Phi Kappa Phi honor society and president of Alpha Omicron Pi Sorority. After graduating, she became one of Tennessee's earliest female aviators. She was a member of the Shelbyville Public Library board of directors, the Association for the Preservation of Tennessee Antiquities, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the PTA. She is survived by her husband of more than 49 years, Brig. Gen. Austin C. Shofner, U.S. Marine Corps, retired.

Charles David Branson '39, Sept. 12, 1996, Knoxville. He retired in 1978 from the Irwin, Pa., division of RobertShaw, where he was director of research and development.

Rev. Vondas Taylor Flenniken '39, Nov. 13, 1996, Knoxville. He was a retired minister from People's Tabernacle.

Dr. Ray W. Mettetal '39, Aug. 1996, Johnson City, Tenn.

John P. "Jack" Murphy '40, Dec. 5, 1996, Maryville, Tenn. He retired from ALCOA after 35 years of service and was a member of the 25 Year Service Club.

Eloise F. Warren '40, April 28, 1996, Murrells Inlet, S.C.

William C. "Red" Arnold Jr. '41, March 23, 1995, Amelia Courthouse, Va. He was retired manager of Virginia Southern States Cooperative, where he had a 30-year career. He was active in community service projects for the American Cancer Society, Red Cross Bloodmobile, Amelia Ruritans, and Amelia County Fair. He was a 50-year member and active supporter of the UT National Alumni Association.

Kathlynn G. Beeler '41, Dec. 27, 1996, Maryville, Tenn. She was an honor graduate of UT where she was a member of Phi Mu Sorority. She retired from H.T. Hackney Co.

Jack H. Gilbreath '41, July 2, 1996, Chattanooga, Tenn.

Sara Hinton Prater '41, Nov. 5, 1996, Knoxville. She was an honor graduate of UT, and a Torchbearer. She was a president of Delta Delta Delta sorority. She was a 50-year member and former president of GFWC Soma Sala Circle, served as a volunteer with the Hamblen County (Tenn.) chapter of the American Red Cross and a driver for the American Cancer Society. She also helped deliver Meals on Wheels and provided volunteer services for other community organizations and individuals.

William B. "Billy" King '42, Nov. 30, 1996, Knoxville. He served in WWII as a P47 fighter pilot and also served in the Korean War in 1950-51. He was an outstanding athlete at UT, lettering in football, swimming, golf, and diving. He was an all-SEC diving champion.

Bennie McKenzie Fleming '43, Sept. 16, 1996, Knoxville. She was a licensed certified social worker. She received her master's degree at UT and was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. Her career included teaching and working with juvenile court, Department of Human Services, Lakeshore Mental Health Center, and American Red Cross Disaster Relief. She inaugurated the social service department at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center and the Patricia Neal Rehabilitation Center and directed them until her retirement in 1988. She was an avid historian with a special interest in her native Rhea County (Tenn.). She was a member of the Tennessee Historical Society.

Robert Bernard Walker '43, Sept. 10, 1996, Knoxville. He was a former member of the Rotary and Lions clubs. He served as a captain with the U.S. Army during WWII. He was associated with ALCOA for 37 years before retiring.

Athol Odean Webb '44, Oct. 2, 1996, Knoxville.

Mabel "Jean" Richmond Crumpton '45, Sept. 5, 1996, Knoxville. She was active many years in the Second District Dental Alliance. She was also an ombudsman for nursing home residents.

Frank D. Dodd '46, Nov. 5, 1996, Memphis. He was an Air Force veteran of WWII with the rank of major. He retired from the Tennessee National Guard as a lieutenant colonel and was commander of the 230th Armor & Engineering Battalion. He established the first Farmers Co-op in Weakley County (Tenn.), was assistant manager of Weakley County Municipal Electric System, owned a John Deere dealership, and co-owned Pepsi-Cola Bottling Co. in Martin. He was regional health administrator of the northwest region, Tennessee Department of Health. He was former president of Martin Rotary Club and a member of American Legion Post No. 60.

Betty Parker Hilands '47, Dec. 28, 1996, Knoxville. She was active in Alpha Delta Pi sorority at UT. She was a member of the Art Market and a watercolor wildflower artist.

Katherine Jane Williams Naff '47, Dec. 28, 1996, Knoxville. She taught kindergarten and third grade at the Little Red School House for more than 20 years.

Dr. John F. Christman '48, Oct. 11, 1995, New Orleans, La.

Eddie Oel Kennedy Jr. '48, Nov. 3, 1996, Maryville, Tenn. He was a retired educator, a sergeant in the U.S. Army, a 52-year member of Oriental Lodge #453 F&AM, a 33rd degree Scottish Rite Mason, an honorary member of Order of the Eastern Star, and a member of Kerbela Shrine, the American Legion, and the Flower Lovers Club.

Anna Beatryce "Bee" Purifoy '48, Dec. 31, 1996, Fort Worth, Tex. She was a retired special education teacher. She worked with deaf children in the Fort Worth Public Schools and had the first deaf class in the Fort Worth Independent School District to use sign language.

William H. Chiles '49, Dec. 2, 1995, St. Joseph, Mo.

William Earle Counce '49, Nov. 17, 1996, Memphis. He was president and mechanical contractor with Stephens Brothers.

William Mabry Ikard '49, Oct. 24, 1995, Winchester, Tenn.

Margaret Ann Adsmond Judd '49, Oct. 29, 1996, Nashville. She was a Sunday school teacher, director of the children's choir, and member of the sanctuary choir and worship committee at Donelson Presbyterian Church. She was a member of the Lebanon Road Garden Club and the former Donelson Home Economists Club.

James Freeman Reeves '49, Nov. 10, 1996, Memphis. He was a retired vice president and office manager at Ruffins Interiors, where he worked for 30 years. He was a WWII Army veteran.

Jimmie Evelyn Gorman Renfro '49, Nov. 10, 1996, Doraville, Ga. She taught in the Knoxville city schools.

Russell L. Dagley Sr. '50, Nov. 12, 1996, Oak Ridge, Tenn. He was retired from Martin Marietta Energy Systems. He was a senior security specialist at the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant. He was employed with the FBI from 1950 to 1957. He was a veteran of WWII, having served in the Pacific Theater as a sergeant in the U.S. Marine Corps. He enjoyed history, and ready, golf, and fly fishing.

David Chandler Davis '50, Dec. 8, 1996, Evergreen, Colo. He served in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during WWII. He was employed as a geologist in oil and minerals exploration.

Ernest L. Earley '50, Dec. 12, 1996, Oak Ridge, Tenn. He was a retired electrical engineer from Union Carbide Corp./X-10. He was a veteran of WWII.

William James Grumbach '50, Dec. 3, 1995, Oak Ridge, Tenn. He was retired from Martin Marietta in Oak Ridge. He served with the Army Air Force in Guam in WWII. He enjoyed golf and traveling.

Ira Leon Holton '50, Dec. 29, 1996, Memphis. He was a retired senior field representative in veteran affairs. He was a WWII veteran and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion.

Ernest Franklin Murdaugh Jr. '50, Nov. 15, 1996, Jackson, Tenn. He was a retired director of the southwest regional office of Tennessee Department of Education, a retired captain with the Tennessee National Guard, and a former company commander with the National Guard unit in Bolivar, Tenn. He was principal of Whiteville High School for 10 years.

Anna Lakin Trout Sherrod '50, Nov. 6, 1996, Knoxville. She taught school for 47 years at Bluegrass, Carter, Alice Bell, and the last 20 years at Inskip Elementary School. She was a member of DAR and Order of the Eastern Star.

Thomas Andrew Henegar Jr. '51, May 5, 1996, Huntsville, Ala. He was a veteran of WWII, having served in the Army Air Force aviation cadet program.

Eugene S. Pipkin '52, Dec. 9, 1996, Knoxville. He served in the U.S. Navy during WWII.

Ota Lou Sloan '52, Dec. 10, 1996, Madisonville, Tenn. She was retired from the Monroe County Schools, where she had taught for 44 years. She was a member of Madisonville Order of the Eastern Star No. 426 and Delta Gamma sorority.

Billy Earl Townsend '52, Oct. 29, 1996, Galveston, Tex. He served in the U.S. Army in Korea. While at UT, he played with the Pride of the Southland Marching Band for four years and was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa.

Mack Trotter Marshall '53, Dec. 10, 1996, Sevierville, Tenn. He was retired postmaster of Sevierville; past president of the Sevierville Chamber of Commerce, Sevierville Optimist Club, and Sevierville Rotary Club; and chairman of outdoor activities of the Retired Citizens of Gatlinburg.

Hugh L. Stokely Jr. '53, Dec. 18, 1996, Oakton, Va. He was a Chinese language officer in the U.S. Navy and a retired commander in the Naval Reserve. He was a Far/Middle East economist at Chase Manhattan Bank in New York, chief economist at Keystone Mutual Funds in Boston, and director of investment research and policy at Girard Bank in Philadelphia. He moved to the Washington, D.C., area as director of public policy at the research firm of Bradley Woods Co., and in 1978 started Hugh Stokely Associates. He was a chartered financial analyst.

Leona Burchfiel Waters '53, Dec. 3, 1996, Knoxville. She was an educator and artist.

Robert Vangilder Creekmore Sr. '54, Dec. 29, 1996, Plantation, Fla. Following his Army service, he embarked on a 35-year career as a marketing representative and executive for IBM, First National Bank of Atlanta, and American Express. He was regional vice president for American Express at the time of his retirement in 1989. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.

Ola E. Anderson '55, Sept. 21, 1996, Clinton, Tenn. She taught in Anderson County (Tenn.) schools for 43 years.

Robert A. Kinkle '55, June 18, 1996, Louisville, Ky.

Ethel Adkins McCall '55, Nov. 24, 1996, Kissimmee, Fla.

Sarah Alexander Sanders '55, Dec. 30, 1996, Jefferson City, Tenn. She taught home economics in high schools in Kentucky and Florida and at Indiana University and Carson-Newman College. She was president of the Tennessee Home Economics Association.

Larry C. Shelton '55, Dec. 20, 1996, Kingston, Tenn.

William A. Whitehead '55, Dec. 8, 1996, Knoxville. He was a veteran of the Korean War. He was retired from the TVA Library.

O. Harmon Cooter '56, Dec. 28, 1996, Knoxville. He was a retired attorney and former administrator for the health retirement funds with the United Mine Workers of America in Knoxville and Pikeville and Middlesboro, Ky. He was a volunteer with the American Heart Association as well as a mason.

Charline Bennett Martin '56, Nov. 6, 1996, Knoxville.

Mary Janice Rush '56, May 3, 1996, Somerville, Tenn.

Donna L. Biddle '57, Dec. 7, 1995, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Leigh A. Burch II '57, Oct. 21, 1996, Alcoa, Tenn. He was retired from AT&T and formerly employed by NCR. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force.

Dr. Harold Eugene Edwards '57, June 19, 1996, Lutz, Fla. He was a retired clinical psychologist at the University of South Florida and the Hillsborough County department of children's services. He was a Navy veteran and a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.

Dr. Robert C. McIlhenny '57, Dec. 23, 1996, Baton Rouge, La. He was a radiation safety officer for Louisiana State University and assistant professor of nuclear science. He was a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran of WWII.

Barbara Jean Pruitt '57, Sept. 7, 1996, Knoxville.

Isobel A. Bowden '59, Oct. 20, 1996, Oklahoma City, Okla. She was active as a volunteer for charities and civic affairs: Red Cross, Officer's Wives Clubs, AFB thrift shop, Mayfair Dance Club, Boy Scouts, Band Parents, Decorator's Showhouse, Women's Committee-Symphony, United Methodist Women, Daughters of the American Revolution, and Green Thumb Garden Club. She was a member of Alpha Omicron Pi sorority. She accompanied her husband on Air Force assignments at Fort Walton Beach, Fla.; Montgomery Ala.; Omaha, Neb.; the Pentagon; Dayton, Ohio; and Tinker Air Force Base, Okla.

Columbia Heatherly Sharp '59, Oct. 21, 1996, Athens, Tenn. She taught school in Campbell County for 25 years. She was a member of the Tennessee Retired Teachers Association, Campbell County Home Demonstration Club, Campbell County Senior Citizens Organization, and LaFollette Business and Professional Women's Club.

Ronda Stonecipher Leffew '61, Oct. 6, 1996, Duff, Tenn. She retired after teaching 38 years at Wynn School. She was a member of the Retired Teachers Association.

Jane Sims Rathbun '61, Oct. 14, 1996, Knoxville.

Ruby C. Sharp '61, Oct. 15, 1996, LaFollette, Tenn. She taught in Campbell County schools for 31 years.

Alberta Coomer Loy '63, Jan. 2, 1997, Knoxville. She retired after teaching 35 years in Knox County schools.

Walter A. Yohey Jr. '63, Jan. 3, 1997, Knoxville. He was a retired Air Force officer and a self-employed businessman.

Nora Ansley '64, Sept. 16, 1996, Walland, Tenn. She was a teacher in Blount County for 40 years.

James Edward Bankston Jr. '65, Nov. 4, 1996, Hendersonville, Tenn.

Edward D. Henry '65, Nov. 3, 1996, Columbia, S.C.

Gary Douglas Mahan '66, Oct. 17, 1996, LaFayette, Ga. He was a high school teacher. He coached football and tennis teams for many years and was a yearbook sponsor for five years. He was an outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing, hiking, and camping.

Mary Ellen Cowles '67, Nov. 20, 1996, Greeneville, Tenn. She was a member of American Guild of Organists and Smoky Mountain Music Teachers Association.

Robert Jackson Pratt '67, Nov. 20, 1996, Ooltewah, Tenn. He owned C. Woody Pratt Co., distributor of Tom's Snack Foods.

William S. Scates '69, Aug. 23, 1996, Denver, Colo. He was a research librarian at Denver University. He served two years in the Navy Reserve.

Dr. Phyllis Allran Barber '70, Oct. 5, 1996, Charlotte, N.C. She was a junior and community college educator for more than 20 years, beginning as associate professor of English, speech, and theater. She was elected to Kappa Delta Pi national education administration honorary, and Phi Kappa Phi national scholarship honorary. She was a member of numerous professional organizations and secured millions of dollars in grant funding for higher education.

Shannon Davis Faulkner III '70, Dec. 17, 1996. He was a partner with Gilbert & Faulkner Attorneys at Law in Knoxville. While at UT, he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon. He enjoyed fly fishing.

Robert F. Pfister '70, Dec. 14, 1995, Ridgewood, N.J.

Raymond Max Whitley '71, Oct. 8, 1996, Chattanooga, Tenn. He was a distinguished military student and distinguished military graduate of UT and served in the U.S. Army and the Tennessee National Guard as a captain in field artillery and air defense artillery. He worked for the Tennessee Valley Authority and later formed Signal Energy Inc., serving as president. He served eight years on the Hamilton County Board of Education and was a board member of the American Cancer Society. He was president of Appalachian Energy Associates, a multi-specialty coal marketing firm, and director of coal promotion for the state of Tennessee.

Mary Louise Greenhoe '72, Oct. 7, 1996, Sweetwater, Tenn. She taught piano and organ at Tennessee Wesleyan College for many years and after her retirement, taught piano in her home. She held offices in the music teachers' associations of Athens and the state and in the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation.

Larry Burl Shipley '72, Dec. 27, 1996, Knoxville.

Becky Ramsey '73, Oct. 9, 1996, Knoxville. She taught English at Bearden Junior High School and Bearden High School until 1985, when she left to become director of outpatient services and community relations at Baptist Health Center. She returned to education in 1990 as supervisor of communications and public relations for Knox County schools. In that post, she served as liaison between administrators, the school board, the media, and the community.

James Thomas Johnson '74, Sept. 22, 1996, Morristown, Tenn. He was owner of Sunset Shell and U-Haul Dealership. A sergeant in the U.S. Army, he was a veteran of the Korean War.

Jeffery A. Mulrain '74, April 22, 1996, Jacksonville, Fla.

Faye W. Pollard '74, Jan. 5, 1997, Carter Community, Knoxville. She was a retired art teacher at Carter Middle School.

Stephan Morris Jernigan '75, Nov. 25, 1996, Clinton, Tenn. He was a self-employed computer consultant who previously worked for Technology 2020 and Daniel Arthur in Oak Ridge and Digital Computer in Knoxville. He was a former member of Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce.

Raymond Edward McNew Jr. '78, Dec. 27, 1996, Knoxville. He was co-founder and co-owner of ADS/Phoenix Inc.

Debra Hatmaker North '81, Dec. 30, 1996, Oak Ridge, Tenn. She was employed at Martin Marietta Energy Systems Inc. in Oak Ridge as a metallurgical engineer.

Patricia Gail Smith '83, Nov. 25, 1996, Knoxville. She was Knox County schools psychologist for 15 years. During her professional career she had served on the staffs of Bonny Kate, Dogwood, Moreland Heights, Gap Creek, Mount Olive, Anderson, and East Knox elementary schools, Doyle Middle, and Farragut High.

Edgar "Eddie" Ray Southern Jr. '84, Nov. 10, 1996, Sneedville, Tenn. He was a lifetime teacher and guidance counselor at Hancock County High.

Richard Frederick Roth '87, Dec. 19, 1996, Knoxville.

Richard W. "Rick" Buckner '88, Aug. 31, 1996, Knoxville. He worked at IT Corp.

Kathryn Mendelson Norris '88, Oct. 29, 1996, Santa Fe, N.M. She was a systems analyst at the Tennessee Valley Authority in Knoxville from 1985 to 1994.

J. Eric Kline '92, Sept. 4, 1996, Knoxville. He was a CPA and an artist. At UT he was an honors graduate and an officer of Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity.

Vanessa Dawn Williams '95, Dec. 21, 1996, Greenback, Tenn.

Steve P. Ballard '96, Oct. 22, 1996, Knoxville.