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In Memoriam

On This Page We Remember Our Friends and Colleagues…


Sandra “Sandy” Sue Maples Rambo, age 71, of Knoxville, Tennessee, passed away on June 8, 2018. Sandy battled kidney disease requiring dialysis 3 days a week for the past 6 years, vascular disease that took part of both her feet, and dementia over the past year. After suffering greatly over the last 8 months, Sandy is now walking with Jesus, and the love ones gone before her. She was born in Maryville, Tennessee, graduated from Everett High School, and attended Hiwassee College. She retired from UTK as an Administrative Assistant in the Engineering Department. She was a faithful member of Cedar Lane United Methodist Church. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend to all she knew. Sandy was known for her smart wit, and to be mischievous at times! She will be missed by all who knew her.  Sandy was a follower of Christ, serving in her church and enjoyed singing in the choir. Thank you to those that cared for her medical needs at the hospital, dialysis, and home care. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Cedar Lane United Methodist Church, 714 Cedar Lane, Knoxville, Tennessee 37912. The family will receive friends at Bridges Funeral Home, 5430 Rutledge Pike, Knoxville, Tennessee 37924 on Wednesday, June 13, 2018 from 5 – 7 pm with a funeral service to follow at 7 pm, in the chapel at Bridges Funeral Home.  The family and friends will gather at 9:45 am for a 10 am interment on Thursday, June 14, 2018 at Oak Ridge Memorial Park, 1501 Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830. Condolences may be left online for the family at www.bridgesfuneralhome.com. 865-523-4999.


Richard Pawel

PAWEL, RICHARD E. – 82, of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, died peacefully in his sleep on January 2, 2015, at Briarcliff Health Care Center. He was born to George and Thelma Pawel in upstate New York in March 1932 and, after short stays in New York and North Carolina, grew up in Norris, Tennessee, where he graduated from high school in 1948. He went on to graduate from the University of Tennessee with a PhD in metallurgical engineering in 1956 at the age of 24, which for a time placed him as the youngest engineering student from UT to receive the PhD degree. While in graduate school at UT, in 1955, he married the former Teresa Gravette and set in motion almost 60 years of joyful companionship. Following his graduation, he served two years at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base until leaving as a captain in 1959.

Immediately after his Air Force service, he was employed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory until his retirement in early 1995. While at ORNL, he enjoyed working extensively in several areas, including high temperature oxidation of a variety of metals, assessments associated with the power source containment for the Pioneer 10 spacecraft, technical development of power reactor safety systems, including extensive involvement with the congressional hearings associated with the Three Mile Island accident, and the Advanced Neutron Source project.

Following his retirement, he cherished gardening and travel time with his family, and enjoyed being very involved in the activities of his grandchildren, including all sorts of sports and games, music recitals, band performances, and generally spoiling them to his liking.

He was predeceased by his parents, and his brother, Morton Pawel. He is survived by his wife, Teresa; his son, Steven (Michelle); and daughter Janet Robertson (Lee); and grandchildren, AJ and Greg Pawel and Curtis and Nolan Robertson, all of Oak Ridge. He is also survived by nephew, David Pawel (Mary); and sister-in-law, Janette Arenander of Centennial, CO; and a cousin, Silas Halperin (Peg) of Syracuse, NY.

The family will have a memorial service at The United Church – Chapel-on-the-Hill in Oak Ridge on Thursday, January 8, at 4:30 p.m., with receiving of friends immediately following in the fellowship hall. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the general fund of the United Church. Weatherford Mortuary is in charge of the arrangements and has an online guest book at www.weatherfordmortuary.com See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/knoxnews


Joseph Earl SpruiellDr. Joseph Earl Spruiell – (age) 78, passed away peacefully at his home in Knoxville on February 17, 2014 after a brief illness. He was born on October 13, 1935 to parents Margaret Claiborne and Joseph Samuel Spruiell. Joe graduated with his B.S., M.S., and Ph.D in Engineering from the University of Tennessee. Dr. Spruiell taught at his beloved Alma Mater for fifty years. He served as Department Head in Polymer and Metallurgical Engineering for fifteen years. Joe loved ballroom dancing, working in and showing his magnificent roses. Joe won many awards for his roses. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his daughter, Teresa Margaret Spruiell Davidson. Joe is survived by his beloved wife Rhonda, daughter and son-in-law Janet and Bruce Byrd of St. Louis, Missouri and beloved grandchildren Amber, Ashely and Andy. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 12:00 noon on Saturday, February 22, 2014 at Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel. The family will receive friends from 10:30 a.m. until 11:45 a.m. Saturday prior to the service at the mortuary. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 78517, Topeka, Kansas 66675. Arrangements by Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel.


E. Eugene StansburyDr. E. Eugene Stansbury – [age] 92, passed away peacefully on February 19, 2011, in Alexandria, VA. His career as a professor of Metallurgical Engineering at the University of Tennessee extended from 1947-1985. He was instrumental in beginning their Metallurgy program, now part of the Materials Science and Engineering Department. He established graduate programs in Metallurgy at both UT and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and developed several research projects in applied physical chemistry, quickly seeing the advantages of computers in this field. He felt strongly that students in non-technical fields need some understanding of technology, and he developed and taught several interdisciplinary courses on this topic. An avid reader, he remained interested in the connections between technology and society. Dr. Stansbury was also the author or co-author of 35 articles, a book on corrosion, and was the recipient of many professional and academic awards. He is survived by his wife Bernice, also of Alexandria, daughters Virginia Terry of Brooklyn, NY; Catherine Stansbury (and husband Curtis Norton) of Lancaster, VA; Barbara Stansbury (and husband Jim Hartman) of Alexandria, VA; son David (and wife Bettye Bradley), of Southwick, MA; and grandchildren Dalton, Sarah and Zoe Stansbury and Karen Terry. Private services are planned. Upon his retirement, an endowment fund for scholarships and equipment was established. Donations may be made to the E. Eugene Stansbury Endowment fund at UT, (via the Office of Engineering Development, 120 Perkins Hall), or to any program that supports materials science research.


Charlie Ray BrooksDr. Charlie Ray Brooks – age 77, of Sevierville, died on Tuesday, November 18, 2008. He was a member of Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church where he was active in the local civil rights movement and in other activities. He was retired from the department of Materials Science and Engineering in the College of Engineering at the University of Tennessee. His specialty was metallurgy. Charlie was the author of numerous books and articles on the study of metals. Several of his books have been translated in Chinese and Japanese. Throughout his career, he directed many undergraduates and graduate students from several different countries. His numerous teaching, research and service awards include three years as the Outstanding Teacher in the Materials Science and Engineering Department, the Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and Distinguished Service Professor, all by the University of Tennessee, as well as the Albert Easton White Teaching Award of the American Society of Metals, International. He was also named a Fellow of the American Society of Metals in 1984. Preceded in death by parents, Charlie and Alix Brooks; father and mother-in-law, Everett and Connie Hale; sister-in-law, Dorthy Hale; and friend, Donald Bogue.  Survived by wife of 50 years, Shirley Hale Brooks; son and daughter-in-law, Timothy Brooks and Dustie Collins; son and daughter-in-law, Jeff Brooks and Kathie Shiba; daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer Brooks and John Ellisor; grandchildren, Israel, Isaac, Joshua, Cassandra, Crystal, Connie, Jacob and An-Mei; great-grandchildren, Charlie, Michael, Gwenneth, Chloe and Becca; sister and brother-in-law, JoAnn and Richard Felsing; brother-in-law, Bruce Hale; brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Elogene Hale; many cousins, nieces, nephews and a host of friends. In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, 2931 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, Tennessee 37919. The family wishes to thank Dr. William D. Black and staff of the North Knoxville Dialysis Clinic for their loving care during his illness.


Raymond BuchananDr. Raymond A. (Ray) Buchanan – age 62 of Knoxville, died Sunday evening, January 15, 2006 at his home. Ray was a member of Central United Methodist Church in Lenoir City. He was a Professor and Head of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, the University of Tennessee–Knoxville. He received his BE, MS, and PhD degrees from Vanderbilt University. His first teaching position was at the University of Alabama–Birmingham. He joined the faculty of the University of Tennessee in 1985. He was recipient of numerous awards for his teaching and research. Among these were the UT Chancellor’s Award for Research and Creative Achievement, the College of Engineering’s Brooks Distinguished Professor Award, the Allen and Hoshall Engineering Faculty Award, the Robert M. Condra Professorship, and several Outstanding Teacher Awards. Ray’s expertise was in the areas of corrosion, wear, fatigue, and biomaterials. He had numerous publications in these areas including a textbook co-authored with E. E. Stansbury entitled Fundamentals of Electrochemical Corrosion. Ray was an active member of several professional societies, and he was a fellow of ASM International (formerly American Society for Metals) and a former chairman of the Oak Ridge Chapter of ASM International. He was recently co-director of a major National Science Foundation (NSF) Integrative Graduate Education and Traineeship Program (IGERT) focused on materials lifetime science and engineering, and he was currently a co-director of a NSF International Materials Institute Program entitled Advanced Neutron Scattering Network for Education and Research with a Focus on Mechanical Behavior. As evidenced by all of his awards and accomplishments, Ray loved working with students at both the graduate and undergraduate levels, and he was highly respected by all of the department’s faculty, staff and students. Ray loved nature, was an avid Tennessee Football fan and loved to travel. He was preceded in death by: his son, Michael David Buchanan; father, Raymond B. Buchanan; sister, Sherry Kay Kline. He is survived by: his beloved wife, Billie Miller Buchanan; daughter and son-in-law, Karen and Scott Reeves of Atlanta, GA; adoring granddaughters, Katie Reeves, Abby Reeves, Brianna Smith and Hope Buchanan; mother, Katherine Buchanan of Madison, TN; brother, Ronald B. Buchanan of Nashville; sister, Bunny Buchanan Norris of Madison; several nieces and nephews. The family suggests memorials may be made to the Knoxville Rescue Ministries, 418 North Broadway, Knoxville, TN 37917.


William Theodore BeckerDr. William Theodore Becker – died peacefully at his home in Knoxville on January 5, 2006. He was born January 24, 1936 in Champaign, Illinois where he attended the academically acclaimed University High School. He received his PhD in Metallurgical Engineering from the University of Illinois. He became an authority in the fields of Mechanical Properties and Failure Analysis of metals. Bill taught at the University of Tennessee for thirty-five years, recently retiring from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering. Bill had a reputation for demanding rigorous academic performance from his students. His professional contributions included extensive service to ASM International (formerly American Society of Metals.) He was co-editor of the ASM Handbook Failure Analysis and Prevention, co-chair of the Failure Analysis Committee, and member of the review board of Practical Failure Analysis. He also served as Faculty Sponsor of the Student Chapter of ASM at the University of Tennessee–Knoxville for several years. His twenty-eight years of teaching for ASM were recognized with awards for distinguished instruction and service. Bill’s expertise was sought by federal and military agencies, insurance companies, and several legal and industrial firms for whom he served as a consultant. He was a member of Alpha Sigma Mu honorary professional fraternity. His keen love of nature led him in earlier years to enjoy fishing, hiking, camping, and mountain climbing. He enjoyed folk music and played guitar, banjo, and dulcimer. His extensive collection of folk recordings was recently donated to the East Tennessee State University Library. He was an avid model railroader. Bill served as an officer in the National Model Railroad Association for several years. He was a driving force in the establishment of the NMRA’s Kalenbach Memorial Library in Chattanooga, TN. Bill received the organization’s President’s Award in 1980 and also became an Honorary Life Member. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Carol Peternell. He is survived by his wife, Margaret “Peg” Schulte Becker; daughter, Meghan Rae Becker and husband Jean Francois Beltra of Carry Le Rouet, France; son, Willem Matthew Becker of Fort Collins, Colorado; step-daughters, Meg Mania of Olympia, Washington, Elizabeth M. Greaves and husband Edmund Greaves and their children, Robin, Mark and Alexander of Brown Deer, Wisconsin. Memorials may be made to the University of Illinois Foundation, University Laboratory High School to benefit financially challenged students; Marilyn Band, 1212 W. Springfield, Urbana, IL 61801.


Ben OliverDr. Ben Oliver – age 76, died on January 8, 2004 after struggling with cancer for several months.  He was retired from the department of Materials Science and Engineering in the College of Engineering at the University of Tennessee. His specialty was metallurgy. The family has suffered a great loss, but takes comfort that Dad’s spirit lives on through his wife Mary, children Valia, Warren, and Daniel, grandchildren, students, and friends.  The memorial service will be held at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church on Saturday, January 17th.  We will receive friends from 4:00pm – 5:00pm and the service will be held at 5:00pm.