Tennessee, U.S., Delayed Birth Records, 1869-1909
John Clark Burden
Son of Claxton residents
John Clark Burden, 57, of Bastrop, Texas, died Friday, February 22, 2002, at his home after several years of failing health.
He was born Jan. 27, 1945, in Tennessee, the son of Jess Wiggins Burden and Leona Patterson Burden, who live in Claxton.
Mr. Burden was a member of the 1963 class of Clinton High School. He later graduated from Nashville Auto-Diesel College. Until poor health caused him to retire, he was an auto body repairman.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by his wife, Martha Sharon Tomlinson Burden; a brother, Earl Burden of Sands Springs, Okla.; three sisters, Shirley McLaughlin of Asheville, N.C., Mary Joyce VanWechel of Wilsonville, Ore., and Jane Krueger of Greenville, S.C.; and a number of nieces and nephews.
The funeral was held Tuesday, Feb. 26, at Andice Baptist Church in Andice, Texas.
Burial followed at the Andice Cemetery
.
Kenneth L. Vander Sluis
Retired ORNL physicist
Kenneth L. Vander Sluis, 76, of Oak Ridge, died Friday, March 1, 2002.
Born Dec. 19, 1925, in Holland, Mich., he was the son of Leonard and Jennie Vander Sluis, who are deceased.
Mr. Vander Sluis attended Baldwin-Wallace College in Berea, Ohio, receiving his bachelor of science degree in physics and mathematics in 1947. He continued his education at Pennsylvania State University, receiving his master of science degree in physics in 1950 and his doctorate in 1952.
He and wife, Joan Harvie Vander Sluis, who survives him, were married June 14, 1952, in Chambersburg, Pa.
He moved to Oak Ridge 50 years ago to work as a physicist for the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. During his tenure, he helped initiate the first laser development program at ORNL, was a major contributor in the development of laser diagnostics for fusion energy research, and authored more than 100 papers on optics, lasers and fusion diagnostics. He was employed for 38 years at ORNL before retiring in 1990.
Mr. Vander Sluis played an active role in his children's activities, which included being a devoted swimming parent. He was a past president of the Atomic City Aquatic Club and a past member of the Southeastern Swimming Officials Committee.
Most recently, he was a National Championship Swimming official and referee for Oak Ridge High School swim meets. He was honored in 1991 as an inductee to the Tennessee Swimming Hall of Fame.
Dancing with his wife was also one of his interests, participating in three dance clubs (YAGO, Latin Dance Club, and currently, the Oak Ridge Dance Club) over the course of 40 years.
He was an active member of Kern Memorial United Methodist Church. He taught the fifth/sixth grade Sunday school class and was church treasurer for a number of years.
In addition to his wife of 49 years, Mr. Vander Sluis is survived by his three children, Lisa Whitney and her husband, David, of Seattle, Wash., Stephen Vander Sluis of Roswell, Ga., and David Vander Sluis and his wife, Kristin, of Knoxville.
His grandchildren are Brian Whitney and Jason Whitney, both of Seattle, Melissa Vander Sluis of Roswell, and Alex Vander Sluis and Abbey Vander Sluis, both of Knoxville; his brother, Ade Vander Sluis and his wife, Gen, of Holland, Mich.; his sister, Marie Johnson and her husband, Paul, also of Holland; and his sister-in-law, Laurie Vander Sluis of Grand Haven, Mich.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Jay Vander Sluis.
The funeral will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday, March 5, at Kern Memorial United Methodist Church.
Burial will follow at Oak Ridge Memorial Park.
The family requests that any memorials be in the form of donations to the Building Fund at Kern Memorial United Methodist Church, 451 E. Tennessee Ave., Oak Ridge, TN 37830.
The family will receive friends from 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesday at the church.
Weatherford Mortuary in Oak Ridge is handling the arrangements.
Kenneth G. Wilson
Retired Rust carpenter
Kenneth G. Wilson, 64, of Clinton, died Friday, March 1, 2002, at his home.
He was born July 28, 1937, in Anderson County, the son of the Rev. E.S. and Rosa Herrell Wilson, who are deceased.
Mr. Wilson was a retired carpenter from Rust Engineering in Oak Ridge.
He was a member of North Clinton Baptist Church.
He is survived by his wife, Cheastean Wilson; two daughters, Teresa Wilson and Debra W. Fellers and her husband William, all of Clinton; two grandchildren, Jessica Fellers and Hilary Fellers; two sisters, Edna Hammer and her husband Lloyd, of Clinton, and Unva Hammer and her husband Clarence, of Heiskell; three brothers, Conrad Wilson and his wife Merailda, Clifford Wilson and his wife Cora Lee, all of Clinton, and Earl Wilson and his wife Lucy, of Mount Clemons, Mich.; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Wilson was preceded in death by two sisters and three brothers, Edith Carmichael, Unise Wilson, Clifton Wilson, Roy Wilson and Ora Wilson.
The funeral was held Sunday, March 3, in the chapel of Holley-Gamble Funeral Home in Clinton.
Burial followed at Piney Grove Baptist Church Cemetery in Clinton.
Max Ray Robinson
A submarine petty officer during the Korean War
Max Ray Robinson, 74, of Oak Ridge, died Sunday, March 2, 2003, after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. Born Feb. 12, 1929, in Childress, Texas, he was the son of Athol and Jewel Robinson.
A veteran of the U.S. Navy, he served during the Korean War as a petty officer on a submarine. It was during this service that he met his wife of 50 years, Clara Trott Robinson, who survives him. They married in Eastport, Maine, on Oct. 24, 1952.
A career-long employee of the Federal Aviation Administration, Mr. Robinson was with the U.S. government for 34 years. A civil and electro-mechanical engineer, he was stationed in Alaska, Oklahoma and Washington, D.C., in various capacities. After retirement, he consulted as a senior system engineer for the Washington, D.C.-based Jerry Thompson Associates.
Mr. Robinson and his wife retired to Oak Ridge in 1989. He was a member of Central Baptist Church and a former member of the Lions Club. His favorite hobby was working on cars, especially with his son. He also delighted in feeding wildlife and, even when homebound, was an avid birdwatcher.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Robinson is survived by his son, David Robinson, of Knoxville; daughter, Colleen Backus, of Little Rock, Ark.; and grandson, Cameron, also of Little Rock.
He was preceded in death by his mother, father and a brother, Martin.
The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 5, at Weatherford Mortuary with the Rev. Bob Gray officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Ridge Memorial Park.
The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m. Wednesday at the mortuary.
The family asks that any memorials be in the form of contributions to the National Parkinson's Foundation, 1501 NW Ninth Ave., Bob Hope Road, Miami, FL 33136-1494.
James Arthur Barker
Former director of personnel at ORNL
James Arthur Barker, 75, died Sunday, March 2, 2003, at Haywood Regional Medical Center in Waynesville, N.C., surrounded by his family.
The only child of Newell and Thelma Barker, he was born in Lynch, Ky., where he attended school. He later attended his last few years of high school at Berea College in Berea, Ky.
Barker attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and received bachelor and master of science degrees in business administration. He met Dorothy Lee Cobb at the University of Tennessee in 1947. They were married on June 10, 1949, at the Chapel on the Hill in Oak Ridge.
He joined Union Carbide Nuclear Division in 1951 where he worked in salary administration, personnel and other positions at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He served as Employee Relations Divisions manager, Employee Relations Division director and then in 1984 served as director of Personnel until he retired in 1988.
Throughout his life, he enjoyed working with people and being involved in community service. He served on the executive committee of the Great Smoky Mountain Council, Boy Scouts of America, was a member of the Oak Ridge Rotary Club, served as vice chairman of the Anderson County Crippled Children's Committee and as past president of the Oak Ridge Jaycees. He served as a board member of the Oak Ridge Mental Health Association. He was a former chairman of the United Way fund drive.
He enjoyed playing golf at Oak Ridge Country Club where he and his wife, Dorothy, were members. He enjoyed his children and grandchildren's regular visits to his Watts Bar home on the lake. When he retired, he and his wife moved to Hilton Head, S.C. Because he loved the mountains, the couple bought a summer home in Maggie Valley, N.C., where he enjoyed playing golf.
In addition to his wife of 53 years, Barker is survived by James Barker Jr. and his wife, Anita, of Knoxville, and granddaughters Tara Gilbreath of Knoxville and Christie Barker of Murfreesboro; daughter, Sherold Barr and husband, Dr. John Kaib, of Maryland; and grandson, Max Barr of Eugene, Ore.; daughter, Jennifer Bennett and husband, Dimmy Bennett, of Atlanta, Ga.; and son, Byron Barker of Knoxville.
His wife, Dorothy, would like to especially thank his caregivers of the past four years for their loving and tender care: Carol Chambers and Carolyn Sutton of North Carolina; and Marva Wadley, Kathy Brown, June Godwin and Naenae Diggs of Atlanta.
Jim's family and caregivers fondly remember him for his charm, cheerfulness and sense of humor in the face of his declining health. His children were touched by his love, integrity and personal dignity.
The family will greet friends at 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 5, at Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 127 Lafayette Drive, Oak Ridge. A service will be held at 2 p.m.
Contributions can be made in his name to the American Heart Association, Anderson County Unit, Box 6014, Oak Ridge, TN 37831; or to Ridgeview, 240 Tyrone Road, Oak Ridge, TN 37830.
Bessie Oakes
Middle Creek Baptist member
Bessie Oakes, 86, of the Mossy Grove community of Morgan County, died Wednesday, March 3, 1999, at her home.
Mrs. Oakes was a former resident of Coalfield. She was a member of Middle Creek Baptist Church.
She was born in Covington, Ky., on July 10, 1912, the daughter of John G. and Elizabeth Hubbard Jackson. She had been a resident of Morgan County since 1920.
Mrs. Oakes enjoyed quilting and crocheting.
She was the widow of Claude H. Oakes.
She is survived by her son, Claude H. Oakes Jr. and his wife, Judith, of Harriman; two daughters, Jessie Mae Vineyard and Mozelle Braden and her husband, Edwin C. Braden, all of Mossy Grove; her grandchildren, Terry Lee Oakes, James Arthur Turpin, David Edwin Braden, Deborah Lynn Silvey and Diane Green; and her great-grandchildren, Eric, Katie, Derick, Christoffer, Tony, Bryan, Kristina, Matthew and Dustin.
Her brother, Bert Jackson, died earlier.
The funeral will be held at 8 p.m. Friday, March 5, in the chapel of Sharp Funeral Home in Oliver Springs with the Rev. David Hanes officiating.
A graveside service with burial will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 6, at Anderson Memorial Gardens, Oliver Springs Highway, Clinton.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
