Charles John Claffey (September 26, 1922-September 12, 2010)
CLAFFEY, CHARLES JOHN - of Knoxville, Tennessee age 87, born September 26,1922, passed away September 12, 2010, at Ft. Sanders Regional Medical Center of heart failure complications.
He was a member of the Congregational Church, native of New York, son of the late Lila Shaw Claffey and Earl Almon Claffey.
Charles came to work in 1944 at the Manhattan Project, Y-12 Plant, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, for the Tennessee Eastman Corp., immediately after graduation from Clarkson University, Potsdam, New York, with a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering degree. He obtained registration in the State of Tennessee as a professional engineer, and was a member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers since student degree at Clarkson; he also worked 53 years in mechanical engineering in Oak Ridge.
After retiring from Oak Ridge National Laboratory (Lockheed Martin Energy Systems, Inc.) in 1997, Charles became interested in all sports, especially football and ice hockey. He also enjoyed reading and was interested in technical publications and the scientific field.
Charles is preceded in death by his parents, only sister Marian Claffey Richardson; and nephews Jams Allen Richardson and John Madison Matthews, IV.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Helen Frances Matthews, whom he married on December 15, 1951; nephew Herbert Earl Richardson of Colma, California; niece Melanie Ann Matthews Claffey, Mantachie, Mississippi; great niece Kathryn Michelle M. McCoy of Pearl, Mississippi; great nephew Corey Matthews Dill, Mantachi; great-great nieces Ashley Nichole Matthews and Hannah Frances Madison McCoy and great-niece Brittany Anne Dill of Mantachie, Mississippi; and great-nephews James Allen Richardson of Norwood, New York and Robert Earl Richardson of Madrid, New York; two great-great-nephews; and two great-great-nieces of Madrid NewYork; two special "granddaughters" Lily and Jessica Ghazizadeh, Richardson, Texas, and their parents Shannaz and Dr. M. Mahmood Ghazizadeh.
Funeral service will be held on September 15, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. at Pickle Funeral Home in Amory, Mississippi, Brother Ferman Anderson officiating with interment to follow at Old Union Cemetery in Okolona, Mississippi.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Old Union Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 5:00 to 7:00 PM Tuesday at E.E. Pickle Funeral Home, Amory, Mississippi.
Local arrangements provided by Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel.
(Published in Knoxville News Sentinel on September 14, 2010)