From the Oak Ridger 18 Mar 2005 Seldon Keith Penny, 72, of West Knoxville, Richard David Smyser, 81, of Oak Ridge, Lonnie York, 85, of Clinton, Mary "Lois" Sparks, 75, of Gainesville, Fla., and formerly of Bloomington, Ind., and Oak Ridge, Seldon Keith Penny, 72, of West Knoxville, went to be with the Lord March 17, 2005. He is survived by the love of his life and wife of 49 years, Marvene G. Penny; his sister, Arda Louise Cook; and his children, Lisa Marie Clay, Laura Jayne Irwin, Seldon Keith Penny Jr., and Lynnbeth McCarn; and his in-laws, Skip Clay, Jeff Irwin, Beverly Penny and Malcolm McCarn. He is also leaving behind 12 grandchildren, Courtney McCarn Niemann, Tiffany Clay Bailey, LauraBeth Clay Cole, Keith Edward Clay, Travis McCarn, Katherine Penny, Brandon McCarn, Abby McCarn, David Keith Penny, Kyle Irwin, Chica Irwin and Luke Penny; and a dear friend, Betty McDowell. Keith was also blessed with his first great-grandchild, Claire Marie Bailey. Keith was born in Oklahoma City, Okla., on Aug. 25, 1932, to Oren Seldon and Arda Mae Penny. He graduated with honors from the University of Oklahoma in 1954 with a degree in engineering physics and was a member of the Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society. He later attended the University of Tennessee, where he obtained a doctorate degree in physics. He was one of the first few students to graduate from the former Oak Ridge School of Reactor Technology. He joined the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in 1955 in the Neutron Physics Division. In 1963, he organized and served as the first director of the Radiation Shielding Information Center. He worked on many projects while at ORNL including the nuclear airplane, the Tower Shielding Reactor, the Bulk Shielding Reactor, the Oak Ridge Research Reactor and the Health Physics Research Reactor. Later, he joined the Computer Science Division as section head and later was the chief officer of computer security. He retired in 1989, after 35 years of service. Keith was always very active in his community of Solway, where he established the Solway Community Center and was involved in the West Knoxville Optimist Club. He was most noted in the community for his passion for coaching softball. Because of his love for his three daughters, he coached girls' softball for many years and was a great influence on many young peoples' lives throughout the community. He was very active in his church, Robertsville Baptist Church in Oak Ridge, where he was an ordained deacon. He taught Sunday School for 12 years and sang in the choir most of his adult life. The funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 19, 2005, at Robertsville Baptist Church with the Rev. Michael Prince officiating. A graveside service will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday at Sherwood Memorial Gardens in Knoxville. The family asks that any memorials be in the form of contributions to Robertsville Baptist Church, 251 Robertsville Road, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, or Adventa Hospice, 1420 Dutch Valley Road, Knoxville, TN 37918. The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 18, at Weatherford Mortuary. An on-line guest book can be signed at www.weatherfordmortuary.com. Richard David Smyser, 81, of Oak Ridge, died Monday, March 14, 2005, at Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge. Mr. Smyser is survived by two daughters, Lucy Tashman and husband, Ira, of Decatur, Ga., and Katherine Smyser McAleer, and her husband, V.J., of Highland Park, Ill.; seven grandchildren; Michael, Paul and Nathan Tashman of Decatur, Ga., and Ally, Quinn, Mariel and Shea McAleer of Highland Park, Ill.; and by his sister, Alice Raphel of Monkton, Md. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 19, 2005, at the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church with Jake Morrill presiding. A reception will follow the service. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to Aid to Distressed Families of Appalachian Counties, P.O. Box 595, Oak Ridge, TN 37831; the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association Chamber Music Series, 205 Badger Ave., Oak Ridge, TN 37830; or the American Society of Newspaper Editors Foundation, 11690 B Sunrise Valley Dr., Reston, VA 20191-1409. Martin Oak Ridge Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Online messages to the family may be left at www.martinoakridgefuneralhome.com. Lonnie York, 85, of Clinton, died Wednesday, March 16, 2005, at NHC HealthCare of Oak Ridge. The son of John and Eva Sexton York, he was born April 1, 1919, in Campbell County. Mr. York was a member of Farmers Grove Baptist Church and the Alpha Masonic Lodge, No. 376, Free and Accepted Masons, both in Clinton. He served with the U.S. Army veteran during World War II. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by several brothers and sisters, and a son-in-law, Carl "Bub" Peace. Mr. York is survived by his wife of 67 years, Mary York; five daughters, Wanda Roberts, Roberta Henderson and husband, Charles "Chuck" Henderson, Loretta "Gail" Foust, Vickie Peace and Connie Ross, all of Clinton; four other sons-in-law, Jim Roberts of Morristown, Joe Foust of Knoxville, Paul Wilder of Clinton and Ronnie Ross of Knoxville; his brother and sister, Carl York and Edna Blair, both of Clinton; and by six grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 19, 2005, in the chapel at Holley-Gamble Funeral Home in Clinton with the Rev. Moss Beets and the Rev. Joe Copeland officiating. Burial will follow at Farmers Grove Baptist Church Cemetery with full military honors at the grave site. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, March 18, at the funeral home. Mary "Lois" Sparks, 75, of Gainesville, Fla., and formerly of Bloomington, Ind., and Oak Ridge, died Monday, March 14, 2005, at the North Florida Regional Medical Center in Gainesville. Day Funeral Home Chapel in Bloomington, Ind., is in charge of arrangements. =========================================== SUPPORT OUR TROOPS---FLY THE FLAG "Genealogy is like playing hide and seek. They hide I seek!!! www.byrge.com/genealogy/ Searching: BYRGE/BUNCH/DAUGHERTY/DUNCAN/KENNEDY/ PATTERSON/PHILLIPS/SEIBER/TACKETT/WARD