Tennessee, U.S., Delayed Birth Records, 1869-1909
Joseph E. 'Joe' Cooper
Retired airplane mechanic
Joseph E. "Joe" Cooper, 82, of Oliver Springs, died Friday, Jan. 31, 2003, at Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge.
Born April 5, 1920, in Caryville, he was the son of Dewey and Martha Chapman Cooper, both now deceased.
Mr. Cooper had lived in Oliver Springs since 1959. He was a retired airplane mechanic and also worked as a diesel mechanic at Walls and Coker for many years.
He was well-known for his mechanical expertise and his ability to build airplanes from buckets of parts. He repaired planes for the original barnstormer.
He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II.
Mr. Cooper is survived by a daughter, Shirley A. Fritts and her husband, Herbert, of Oliver Springs; grandsons Bernie J. Fritts and his fiancee, Melinda Webb, both of Oliver Springs, and Tony Fritts of Claxton; great-granddaughter Tiffany Lynn Fritts of Knoxville; sisters Frankie Moore Noogin of Knoxville, Ann Duncan and her husband, Clayton, of Clinton, Wilma Minor of Oak Ridge, Charlotte Broders and her husband, Martin, of Loudon, Kay Acosta and her husband, Jim, of Largo, Fla., and Lucille Patterson of Clearwater, Fla.; and several nieces and nephews.
He considered as special friends Sheila, Marvin and Doris Justice of Oliver Springs and Tom Rohling of Maryville.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Cora C. Cooper, another daughter, Joyce Jeanette Cooper, and a brother, Ted Cooper.
A graveside service was held Sunday afternoon, Feb. 2, at New Fairview Cemetery in Oliver Springs with the Rev. Scott Queener officiating.
Sharp Funeral Home in Oliver Springs handled arrangements.
Jeffrey Michael Black
Former Oak Ridge resident
Jeffrey Michael Black, 46, died Friday, Jan. 30, 2004, at his home in Oakland, Calif.
Born Sept. 14, 1957, in Oak Ridge, he was the son of Colleen Black of Oak Ridge and the late Clifford H. Black.
He attended St. Mary's Catholic School, Jefferson Junior High School and graduated from Oak Ridge High School in 1975. After graduation, Mr. Black pursued a career in art, studying in Nashville, Atlanta, Ga., and San Francisco, Calif.
Mr. Black was a sculptor. According to his family, he recycled trash from the streets - auto parts, hair rollers, plastic bottles, cardboard, bits of paper, and discarded trinkets and toys - into hotels, churches, banks, terminals, restaurants and historical cityscapes. Many of his works are based on the historic past, while others are a bit whimsical and strictly imaginary. His family said all of his art is environmentally correct and his aim was to help clean up the environment by turning trash into art.
His family said he had a knack for scavenging and finding discarded objects along city streets and byways. He would gather his objects d'art on his early morning walks around Union Square, Nob Hill, the Mission District, Richman District, Market Square and the Tenderloin. His finds were then cleaned, taped and glued together, using a process he called "Taper Mache," his family said. He taped, glued and painted the trash into a mixed media of brightly colored sculpture that he wired and lit from within.
According to his family, one of his favorite sculptures, "The Columbia," stands six feet tall and is standing in his mother's sunroom. It was a gift for her 70th birthday. His family said the giant sculpture is the focal point of the room, and became the first of his series of San Francisco's historical hotel sculptures.
His family said he was always interested in history and art and he loved the history and architecture of large cities, having grown up in Oak Ridge where the history started during World War II, and the tallest building in town was the old practice fire tower.
In addition to his mother, Mr. Black is survived by seven brothers and sisters, David Black of Nashville, Suzanne and Pete Angelini of Oak Ridge, Becky Adams of Knoxville, Jennifer and Malcolm Burman of Atlanta, Mary Tara and Don Warner of Northport, Maine, Cliff and Nora Kidd Black of Tucson, Ariz., and Jayne Massoumi of Sarasota, Fla.
He is also survived by eight nieces, Lena Adams of Knoxville, Isabella Angelini Stewart of Livermore, Calif., Haley Warner, Sierra Warner, Savannah Warner and Starr Warner, all of Northport, Soraya Massouni and Mariah Massouni, both of Sarasota; four nephews Joseph Angelini of Oak Ridge, Michael Adams of Boston, Mass., and Montana Burman and Kansas Burman, both of Atlanta; two grandnieces, Kaylan Adams Sudbury of Knoxville and Ariella Stewart of Livermore; and by one grandnephew, Dario Stewart of Livermore.
A graveside service will be held in Livermore at a later date.
The family requests that any memorials be in the form of contributions to St. Mary's Catholic Church, 327 Vermont Ave., Oak Ridge, TN 37830.
Wilson Family Funeral Chapel in Livermore is in charge of arrangements.
Robert J. Kupsch
Retired Asarco vice president
Robert Joseph Kupsch, 71, of Oak Ridge, died Sunday, Jan. 31, 1999, at his home.
Mr. Kupsch retired in April 1993 as vice president of mining for Asarco Inc. of New York, N.Y. He spent his entire career with Asarco, joining the company's Ground Hog, N.M., unit in 1951 after graduating from the University of Missouri School of Mines at Rolla with a bachelor of science degree in mining engineering. Before graduating from the university, he attended the Wisconsin Institute of Technology, Platteville, from 1947 to 1950.
In 1952, he was appointed an engineer for the Western Mining Department in Tucson, Ariz. The following year, he transferred to Neptune Mining Co., in which Asarco held a majority interest, in Nicaragua, and rose to assistant mine superintendent before leaving in 1957 to become assistant chief engineer at Asarco's Northwest Mining Department in Wallace, Idaho.
In 1960, he was assigned to the Mission Unit, Sahuarita, Ariz., as pit supervisor. He returned to the Ground Hog Unit as mine superintendent in 1964. He was named general superintendent of the Northwest Mining Department in 1968, and the following year transferred to the New York office as assistant to the vice president, mining.
In 1972, Asarco acquired four zinc mines in Tennessee and Mr. Kupsch was named manager of the Eastern Mining Department in Knoxville. He was appointed general manager of that department in 1976 and held that post until his election as vice president in 1981. After retirement, he relocated to Oak Ridge.
He was born in West Bend, Wis., on Sept. 2, 1927, the son of William and Clara Michels Kupsh. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II.
Mr. Kupsch was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church and a member of Lodge No. 1684 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks in Oak Ridge and Post No. 0127 of the American Legion in Wisconsin. He was also a member of the American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical and Petroleum Engineers.
His family said he enjoyed fishing, traveling, his family and his church.
Mr. Kupsch is survived by his wife of 46 years, Hazel Jacobson Kupsch; his son, William Grant Kupsch and his wife, Francine, of Tucson; three daughters, Paula Ann Lynch and her husband, Bob, of Oak Ridge, Sandra Lee Kupsch and her husband, Gary A. Marsh, of Eugene, Ore., and Pamela Lynn Kupsch of Knoxville; three sisters, Jean Steffens of Elgin, Ill., Carol Tank of Milwaukee, Wis., and Patricia Cammarato and her husband, Joseph, of Menomonee Falls, Wis.; and by three grandchildren, Derek Lynch, Emily Lynch and Mary Kupsch.
His daughter Susan Pamela Kupsch died in 1953, and two brothers also died earlier, William Kupsch in 1944 and Donald Kupsch in 1958.
The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 4, at St. Mary's Catholic Church. The Rev. Michael Woods will officiate.
Burial will follow at Oak Ridge Memorial Park. Members of the East Tennessee Honor Guard will conduct military rites with full honors.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 3, at Weatherford Mortuary. A Rosary will be said at 8 p.m.
The family requests any memorials be in the form of donations to the American Cancer Society, in care of Lee Costanzo, 103 Case Lane, Oak Ridge, TN 37830; or to St. Mary's Catholic Church, 327 Vermont Ave., Oak Ridge, TN 37830.
Catherine Hudson Black
Mother of Ronald Black
Catherine Josephine Hudson Black, 67, of 260 Burns St., Alcoa, died Tuesday, Feb. 2, 1999, in Alcoa.
Mrs. Black was the mother of Ronald Black of Oak Ridge.
She was a member of the Church of God of Maryville and had served the church in many capacities, including as church clerk and president of the District Missionary Society.
She was the daughter of George and Eddie Pearl Hudson, both now deceased, and the widow of Craig Black.
In addition to her son and his wife, Gwendolyn Black, Mrs. Black is survived by her daughter, Audrey Black of Alcoa; four grandchildren, Ronald Black Jr. of Knoxville, Chris Black and Adam Black of Oak Ridge, and Salena Black of Alcoa; her sister, Gertrude Echols of Alcoa; and her brother, Bruce Hudson and his wife, Marilyn, of Augusta, Ga.
She is also survived by three sisters-in-law, Sandra Hudson of Maryville, Sue Hudson of Centerville and Lela Hudson of Atlanta, Ga.; her stepsister, Gussie Niles; and by many other nieces, nephews and other relatives.
In addition to her husband and her parents, her stepmother, Katie Mae Hudson, three brothers, Milton Hudson, Eddie Hudson and Freddie Hudson, and her stepbrother, Roosevelt McKinley, died earlier.
The funeral will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, at Maryville Church of God, 311 McNabb Lane, Maryville, with elder Ralph Lee officiating.
Burial will follow at Union Temple Cemetery in Wildwood.
The family will receive friends from noon to 1 p.m. Saturday at the church.
Foothills Funeral Home in Maryville is handling arrangements.
Hester Slusher Taylor
Fairview Baptist member
Hester Slusher Taylor, 93, of Knoxville, died this morning, Feb. 4, 1999, at Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge.
Mrs. Taylor was a member of Fairview Baptist Church of Solway.
She retired in 1970 as a teacher with the Knox County schools.
Born in Bell County, Ky., on April 4, 1905, she was the daughter of James Farmer and Melinda Saylors Slusher. She held a bachelor of science degree from Union College in Barbourville, Ky.
Mrs. Taylor enjoyed flowers, gardening and quilting, her family said.
She is survived by her husband, Ernest H. Taylor Sr.; two sons, Ernest Henry Taylor Jr. and his wife, Shirley, of Eatonton, Ga., and James Robert Taylor Sr. of Powell; and five daughters, Henrietta T. Elliott and Geraldine S. Norton and her husband, Robert, all of Oak Ridge, Linda Lou Berry and Patricia Ann Ray and her husband, Don, all of Knoxville, and Martha Lynn Litton and her husband, Eddie, of Seffner, Fla.
Mrs. Taylor is also survived by her brother, Albert Slusher of Clinton; her sister, Lucy Slusher of Knoxville; and by 18 grandchildren and 22 great-grandchildren.
The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6, in the chapel of Weatherford Mortuary with the Rev. Larry Webster officiating.
Burial will follow at Oak Ridge Memorial Park.
The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 5, at the mortuary.
Wayne 'Tony' Kirksey
Retired Y-12 chemist
Wayne "Tony" Kirksey, 85, of Knoxville, died Saturday, Feb. 2, 2002, at St. Mary's Residential Hospice in Knoxville.
Mr. Kirksey was the last surviving son of 11 children of William and Callie Kirksey. He was a graduate of Bradley County High School and of Tennessee Wesleyan College. Through his sports achievements, he was inducted into the Bradley County Sports Hall of Fame.
Mr. Kirksey was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. He was retired from Union Carbide Nuclear Division as a chemist at the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant.
He attended First Baptist Church of Clinton.
Mr. Kirksey is survived by his wife, Jane Kirksey; two sons, Bill Kirksey and his wife, Jane, of Gaithersburg, Md., and Ron Kirksey and his wife, Susan, of Stow, Ohio; three grandchildren, Scott Kirksey, Kate Kirksey and Jennifer K. Smith and her husband, Todd; and several nieces and nephews, including a niece he considered special, Kaye Doty of Farragut.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 6, at First Baptist Church in Clinton with the Rev. Paul Frick officiating.
The family requests that any memorials be in the form of donations to St. Mary's Residential Hospice, 7447 Andersonville Pike, Knoxville, TN 37938; or to the Building Fund at First Baptist Church, 222 N. Main Street, Clinton, TN 37716.
The family will receive friends at the church following the memorial service Wednesday.
Holley-Gamble Funeral Home in Clinton is handling the arrangements.
