Jerry Sluder

Born September 25, 1940, Jerry Lewis Sluder was born and raised in the Alcoa company town of Calderwood, Tennessee, in Blount County along the Little Tennessee River by Calderwood Dam. He was a two-sport athlete and proud graduate of Harrison-Chilhowee Baptist Academy (now known as The King's Academy) before heading to Tennessee Polytechnic Institute (now Tennessee Technological University) and graduating with his bachelor's degree in Industrial Technology in 1962. Upon graduation from Tennessee Tech, he completed Officer Candidate School at Naval Station Newport, Rhode Island, and received his naval officer's commission followed by assignment to the USS NANTAHALA and subsequent duties in Norfolk, Virginia. During this time he also found time to marry the love of his life and partner for the next sixty one years, Anne–the best decision of his life.

They started their lives together in Virginia until Jerry finished his naval service and then moved to Kingston, Tennessee. He began his professional career working with plant and equipment operations at the K-25 Oak Ridge Gaseous Diffusion Plan (ORGDP) before moving to X-10, the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Through years of hard work together, he gained many long-lasting friends, funny stories, and happy memories.

Jerry's and Anne's lives in Kingston centered around their two children, Mark and Mandy, and all of their activities. Jerry was always there for scouting camping trips, rainy or freezing football games, dance recitals, cheerleading, and band performances. He chauffeured family vacations that reached west to California, north to New England, east to the Outer Banks, and south to Florida and the Gulf Coast. He drove the family to Kingston United Methodist Church whenever the doors were open. He and Anne were active in the Builders Sunday School Class for decades where they studied and worshiped with some of their dearest friends. They were long-time members of the choir and volunteered together at the church's Clothes Closet ministry. That church has been their extended family and the body of Christ in times of celebration and of need.

In retirement, Jerry kept on working. He started by building a wooden canoe in the garage, then furniture for a series of offices for his brother-in-law. He served with fellow veterans as part of the Roane County Military Honor Guard so that others could receive their proper military honors in death. He kept the house functioning and the family's vehicles running. He teared up watching his son follow in his footsteps, graduating from OCS and becoming a naval officer. He was his son's best man and gave away his daughter in marriage. He welcomed two grandsons and a granddaughter. He visited his son and daughter-in-law in Japan and sailed on a Navy ship with him. He provided strength and comfort when cancer took one daughter-in-law and then another. He welcomed and loved new daughters-in-law and new grandchildren as if they had been there all along. He was eagerly awaiting his first great grandchild right up until the finish line.

He was a teacher to us all. He was a horseman and taught us to ride. He was a craftsman and taught us to build. He taught his son to shoot and whittle and change the oil and follow the bass line of a hymn. He taught us to work hard and not to quit. He taught us to hold on, hold our ground, and hold each other. He taught us to be thankful. He loved the Lord and his wife and his family. He loved his country. He was a good friend and a good example. He liked old cars and tools and working on one with the other like his father. He liked to read and learn and work crossword puzzles like his mother. He liked horses and dogs and black coffee. He enjoyed country music and bluegrass, good stories, and funny jokes. He was a thinker and a problem solver and a designer. He had a pacemaker in his chest, but to us there was never anything wrong with his heart.

We will miss his hugs and handshakes, the smile on his face and the twinkle in his eyes, and his laugh in the air. But we were blessed to have him for eighty-five years in our world, and his love for us remains. We take comfort in knowing he is now in a new room in a house that Christ prepared for him a long time ago. He has run the race that God put before him, he finished his course, and he kept the faith. You have done a lot with what you have been given. Well done, good and faithful servant. Come on home.

Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, daughters-in-law Laurie Sluder and Judith Sluder. He is survived by his wife of 61+ years, Anne; his children Mark Sluder (Shannon) and Mandy Hitson (Robin); his grandchildren, Joe Sluder (Shannon), Jack Sluder, Abbey Oligny (Jake) expecting his first great grandchild, Matthew Bohn (fiancé Victoria Phung), London Bohn, Josh Clarke, Foster Clarke and Faith Clarke; his sister Sue Coe; and numerous extended family members.

A celebration of life will be held Wednesday, November 26, 4:00 pm at Kingston United Methodist Church-The Shore located at 212 W Church St, Kingston, TN 37763. In lieu of flowers gifts may be made to KUMC-The Shore, Pavilion Fund.

Fraker Funeral Home of Kingston is honored to serve the Sluder family.