Samuel Graves Snow

Samuel Graves Snow, 87, of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, passed away peacefully on February 12, 2026, after a long and courageous battle with Parkinson's disease.

Sam was born on July 14, 1938, in Norfolk, Virginia, to Arthur William Snow and Mary Bulla Snow.

He was preceded in death by his beloved daughter Caroline Elizabeth Snow Rader (Pat), his brother Daniel Bulla Snow (Nancy), his sister Mary Allen Owen (Harding), and his parents.

He is survived by his beloved and devoted wife of 66 years, Ann Hudson Snow, his son Samuel Allen Snow (Bryce), his son-in-law Patrick Neil Rader and his grandchildren Laura Ashley Stiffler (Walter), Mary Beth McCue (Adam), and Patrick Samuel Rader (Sarah). He was also blessed with ten great-grandchildren: Quinton Stiffler, Sophia Stiffler, Whitman Stiffler, August Stiffler, Jack McCue, Ivy McCue, Huck McCue, Patrick Rader, George Rader, and Declan Rader. Sam was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather whose quiet strength and warmth were the foundation of his family.

He enjoyed playing bridge and hearts, reading, traveling, writing (he authored two books), and reminiscing about his very full life. He especially cherished time spent with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, whose lives brought him immense pride and happiness. A man of faith, Sam was a devoted member of First United Methodist Church in Oak Ridge since 1963. He served as an usher, as well as for many years as Associate Treasurer and Treasurer, on the Board of Ordained Ministers, as Chairman of the Staff Parish Committee, taught Sunday School and actively supported the Y-12 Community Relations Committee. Sam was also deeply involved in the Kiwanis Club, where he held several officer positions over the years, including serving as president. Professionally, Sam's career was marked by exceptional achievement and national impact. A physicist by training, he earned a B.S. in Physics from Virginia Tech with High Honors and a master's degree in physics with High Honors from Florida State University. He was awarded the prestigious National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship at Florida State University. He began his association with the Y-12 National Security Complex as a co-op student in 1957 and, after earning his master's degree from Florida State University in 1963, returned to continue his career there, ultimately retiring in 2000 as Department Head of the Development Division after 39 years of full-time service.

He led groundbreaking advancements in nondestructive testing, nuclear measurement, and criticality safety. As manager of Physical and Dimensional Testing, and later of Instrumentation and Characterization, Sam helped shape the certification of U.S. weapons components and improve global nuclear safeguards. Among his most notable achievements was leading the development of the Continuous, Automated Vault Inventory System, later adopted in part by facilities in the former USSR. He served as Chairman of the Y-12 Plant Criticality Safety Committee from 1980 to 1999, a member of the ORNL Criticality Review Committee, and contributed to international weapons technology exchange through the UK/US agency partnership. He authored the "Radiation Gaging" chapter of the ASNT Handbook, the most widely used reference in nondestructive testing, and was awarded the 1989 Martin Marietta Energy Systems Award for outstanding leadership. Sam was a member of the Society of Non-Destructive Testing, Phi Kappa Phi, and Sigma Pi Sigma. He also completed the Wharton Effective Executive Workshop at the University of Pennsylvania in 1986. Humble, brilliant, and principled, Sam never sought the spotlight. He simply led by example - with intelligence, kindness, and deep devotion to his work, his community, and above all, his family.

The family extends their heartfelt thanks to the PCM nurses, The Glen of Oak Ridge, and UT Hospice for the loving care and compassion shown to Sam.

A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, March 6, 2026, at First United Methodist Church of Oak Ridge, 1350 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge, Tennessee. The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m., with the service to follow at 2:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made in honor of Sam to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research(michaeljfox.org) or to First United Methodist Church of Oak Ridge.