Mr. William "Bill" Osborne Graves

GRAVES, WILLIAM OSBORNE "BILL" - age 90 of Knoxville, Oak Ridge, and Tullahoma, Tennessee, died Saturday, June 2, 2012. He was born May 21, 1922, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Bill is predeceased by his parents, Ethel Murdock Ward Graves and Osborne Hazen Graves, originally of Vermont, and his older sister Margery Edith Graves. Bill moved to Tennessee at age 12 when his father took a job as a site planner with the Tennessee Valley Authority. On Tazewell Pike, Bill enjoyed riding bikes, raising chickens, and participating in boy scouts and church activities. He graduated from Central High School in 1940, where he played flute in band and was a member of HI-Y and the National Honor Society. After high school, Bill attended the University of Tennessee. From 1943-1946, Bill served in the U.S. Army, first in the specialized training program at West Virginia University in Electrical Engineering, and in the Signal Corps at Camp Crowder, MO. In 1946, Bill returned to UT where he played flute in the band, joined Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, earned his BS degree in Physics, and as a member of the UT Chorus met Sunny (Elsie Mae) Bondurant. They were married on August 3, 1948. After college, Bill was employed as a clerk with International Harvester, became assistant manager of Britton Motors Lincoln-Mercury Dealer in 1950, and became an industrial engineer with Patent Button Company of Knoxville in 1952. In 1957 he accepted a position with Oak Ridge National Laboratory where he worked for 25 years, as a budget analyst in Finance, administrative assistant for the Plant and Equipment Division, Plant Shift Supervisor, and manager of the Materials Department, retiring in 1983. At ORNL, Bill received two citations for contributions to the field of precious metals procurement for the nation's Voyager Program of scientific space studies. Over the years, Bill enjoyed service and fellowship with co-workers, church family, members of civic organizations, and friends. He was an associate member of Middlebrook Pike United Methodist Church, Knoxville and a member of Faith Lutheran Church, Tullahoma. He sang for many years with wife Sunny in the Middlebrook church choir as well as the O'Connor Singing Seniors and Shannondale Singers. In the Lion's Club, Bill served as the Oak Ridge club president, Treasurer of District 12-N of Lions International, and President of East Tennessee Eye Bank. He has served as president of the Knoxville chapter of the Society for the Advancement of Management. In retirement, Bill and Sunny have enjoyed gardening, singing, and being with friends. Bill is survived by his wife Sunny; three children: Kenneth (Theo) Graves of Graham, Washington, Linda (Marty) Nutter of Tullahoma, and James (Kathy Doyle) Graves of Middletown Springs, Vermont; eight grandchildren: James Graves of Seattle, Washington, Katherine Graves Dunivan of Tacoma, Washington, Ruth Nutter Stevenson of Canton, Georgia; David Nutter of Johnson City, Jonathan Nutter of St. Petersburg, Florida, Seth Nutter of Knoxville, and John Graves and Daniel Graves of Middletown Springs, Vermont; and four great grandchildren. Over the years, Bill loved doing things with family, including camping trips, holiday gatherings, discussions and projects on everything from science and nature's wonders to home repairs and faith, church gatherings, and relaxed times at home. Visitation will be Tuesday, June 5, 2012, from 6:30-8:30 pm at Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel, on Kingston Pike in Knoxville. A Memorial Service celebrating Bill's life will be held on Wednesday, June 6, at 2:30 pm at Middlebrook Pike United Methodist Church with the Reverend Eric Rieger officiating. The family suggests that memorials be directed to Middlebrook Pike United Methodist Church, Faith Lutheran Church of Tullahoma, or the memorial of your choice. Online condolences may be extended at www.rosemortuary.com. Arrangements provided by Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel.