John Howard Roberson

JOHN HOWARD ROBERSON AGE 87 OF HARRIMAN, TN. DIED THURSDAY, JULY 31, 2003 AT HOME ATTENDED BY HIS FAMILY, HIS FAITHFUL NURSING ASSISTANTS, AND HOSPICE. ROBERSON WAS SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE, KAY ROBERSON; THREE DAUGHTERS; LYNNE, MARY AND LAURA ROBERSON; ROBERT CALLAHAN, HUSBAND OF HIS DECEASED DAUGHTER, JEAN; HIS GRANDDAUGHTERS; KATHY, CHERYL AND CHRISTY; GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN, JOSHUA AND CHRISTIAN WHITE; AND NUMEROUS NIECES, NEPHEWS AND COUSINS. HE WAS THE SON OF WILLIAM HAYNE ROBERSON AND MARIA BERTHA PAINE ROBERSON OF PIKEVILLE, TN IN SEQUATCHIE VALLEY. BORN IN GRANDFIELD, OK AND RAISED IN PIKEVILLE, TN, ROBERSON WAS AN EAGLE SCOUT. HE WAS ALSO AN HONOR STUDENT AND VALEDICTORIAN AT CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL, CHATTANOOGA (1932). ROBERSON WAS SENIOR CLASS PRESIDENT (BS, PHYSICS, 1936) AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHATTANOOGA (NOW UT-CHATTANOOGA) WHERE HE LATER WAS RECOGNIZED AS A DISTINGUISHED ALUMNUS (1956) AND RECEIVED AN HONORARY DOCTOR OF SCIENCE (1966). HE GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN (PHD, PHYSICS, 1947). ROBERSON WAS A MEMBER OF THE HONOR SOCIETIES OF ALPHA SOCIETY AND SIGMA PI SIGMA (PHYSICS) AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHATTANOOGA AND SIGMA XI AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN. DURING WORLD WAR II, CAPTAIN ROBERSON SERVED IN THE ARMY WITH THE 105TH ANTIAIRCRAFT ARTILLARY GROUP IN THE EUROPEAN THEATER (1942-1946). BATTLES INCLUDED ROME ARNO, RHINELAND, SICILY, SOUTHERN FRANCE, AND CENTRAL EUROPE. HE RECEIVED THE EUROPEAN AFRICAN MIDDLE EASTERN SERVICE MEDAL WITH 5 BRONZE STARS AND 1 BRONZE ARROWHEAD AS WELL AS THE WWII VICTORY MEDAL. ROBERSON WORKED AS A PIONEERING HEALTH/NUCLEAR PHYSICIST IN THE ORNL/AEC OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND MEDICINE IN OAK RIDGE (1945-1951) AND WITH AEC IN WASHINGTON, DC AND MIAMISBURG, OH. HE WAS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ARGONNE UNIVERSITIES ASSOCIATION NEAR CHICAGO, IL WHEN HE RETIRED TO HIS BELOVED EAST TENNESSEE. IN A UTC ALUMNI SURVEY, ROBERSON SAID, 'MRS. ROBERSON AND I CONSIDER THE RAISING OF OUR FOUR DAUGHTERS TO BE BY FAR OUR GREATEST LIFE ACHIEVEMENT.' VISITATION WILL BE HELD AT KYKER FUNERAL HOME FROM 4 TO 5PM ON SUNDAY, AUGUST 3RD. A MEMORIAL CELEBRATION RECOGNIZING HIS LOVE OF FAMILY, FRIENDS, NATURE, EDUCATION, AND LIBRARIES WILL BE HELD AT THE FAMILY HOME IN LICKSKILLET. THE FAMILY REQUESTS NO FLOWERS; MEMORIAL DONATIONS MAY BE SENT TO THE FRIENDS OF THE KINGSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY, ROANE COUNTY HERITAGE COMMISSION OR A CHARITY OF YOUR CHOICE. KYKER FUNERAL HOME OF KINGSTON IN CHARGE OF ARRANGEMENTS.www.kykerfuneralhome.com

John Howard Roberson

January 17, 1916 - July 31, 2003