roy lynn smitherman

SMITHERMAN, ROY L. - age 82, of Oak Ridge, passed away at Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge in the early morning of May 30, 2009. Mr. Smitherman was the son of Roy C. and Clara Wallace Smitherman (both deceased) of the Antioch community near Centreville, in Bibb County, Alabama, where he grew up during the great depression years. He graduated from the Bibb County Public Schools in 1945, and he soon after entered the U. S. Army, serving for approximately two years with postwar occupation forces in Italy. Following his time in Italy, Mr. Smitherman attended The University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee, and earned a degree in political science. He served again in the Army in San Antonio, Texas, during the Korean conflict. He moved to Oak Ridge in 1951, and he was ultimately employed at K-25 (Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plant) for 35 years, retiring in 1988. He was a longtime member of First United Methodist Church in Oak Ridge. In addition to spending time with his family, he enjoyed playing bridge, golf, traveling, and working crossword puzzles. He also often volunteered at the Oak Ridge Convention and Visitors Bureau. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Phelan B. Smitherman and Orland C. Smitherman. He is survived by his wife, June Osborne Smitherman; daughter, Claire Hotchkiss and her husband, Dr. Richard Hotchkiss, of Chesterfield, Missouri; daughter, Lynn McCutcheon and her husband, Michael McCutcheon, of Novi, Michigan, and Oak Ridge; son, Dr. Kenton Smitherman of Carlsbad, California; three sisters, Essie Mae Smitherman of Dothan, Alabama, Gail Butts of Littleton, Colorado, and Joy Sheppard of Marietta, Georgia; and six grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at First United Methodist Church in Oak Ridge at 2 p.m., Tuesday, June 2, 2009, with visitation following in the church parlor. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any memorials be made to First United Methodist Church in Oak Ridge. An online guest book may be signed at www.weatherfordmortuary.com