George Ivan Cathers

CATHERS, GEORGE IVAN - age 91 of Knoxville, passed away Tuesday, December 12, 2006 after a brief illness. He was born December 3, 1915 in Keyser, W. Va. He lost his mother, Mabel Ritzell Cathers to the Spanish Influenza in 1917, and became separated from his father, George Cathers, who had joined the Army and gone to Europe during WWII. He was raised by his mother's family in Keyser, and educated at Northwestern and the University of W. Va. During WWII, while working for American Cyanamid, Mr. Cathers and some fellow chemists were recruited by the Army to execute a process preparing chemicals for use in the nation's early atomic energy program. In 1943, he met Eleanor Little while commuting to work by bus and they married in November of that year. After the war, he returned to school, obtaining a PhD in Physical Chemistry at Yale. In 1952, he and his wife moved to Oak Ridge, where their son was born in 1953. Mr. Cathers joined the staff at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where he served as a group leader in the Chem Tech Division. He worked primarily on chemical processes for the nuclear industry, and his work resulted in numerous publications and several patents. The family moved to Knoxville in 1956, where he became active in the local community recreation association, and enjoyed many outdoor activities, as well as chess and bridge. He retired in 1976, but continued to follow the sciences, reading constantly. Mr. and Mrs. Cathers were divorced in 1978. Mr. Cathers moved to South Knoxville, where he lived independently until his recent illness. Locally, he is survived by his friend and ex-wife, Eleanor Cathers, and son Arthur, both of Knoxville. Other survivors include half-sisters, Betty Reisinger and Colleen Krueck of Ohio and niece Karen Vedder of California. Mr. Cathers had requested that his remains be cremated, and the ashes scattered. No services have been planned at this time. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: the Community Action Committee Office on Aging, P.O. Box 51650, Knoxville, TN 37950, or other organizations of the donor's choosing. Arrangements by Weaver Funeral Home. www.weaverfuneralservices.com.