JOSEPH RIMMER WALTON

WALTON, JOSEPH (JOE) RIMMER - age 93, of Knoxville, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, October 1, 2014, surrounded by his loving family. Joe was born in Lynch, Kentucky to Everett Rice and Martha Pitman Walton. He married Doris Moore Walton in 1953. Joe attended the University of Kentucky, graduated Eastern Kentucky University, and did Graduate Doctoral Studies at University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He served with the War Department as an inspector of Army Ordnance Material. Joe was a physicist for 34 years at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Stable Isotopes and Analytical Chemistry Divisions. His professional and academic honors included: Who's Who in the South and Southwest; Leaders in American Science; and American Men of Science, as well as scientific patents and publications. After his retirement in 1982, Joe was a consultant with Pernicka Corporation in Silicon Valley, California and Physimetrics in Atlanta, Georgia. Joe was a member of Concord United Methodist Church since 1958. He was a former Adult & Adolescent Youth Sunday School Teacher as well as Sunday School Superintendent. Joe was in the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels and a Kentucky Wildcat Fan. He was a member of the Tennessee Valley Sportsman's Club and Bearden Lion's Club. Joe was a ham radio operator and member of American Radio Relay League (ARRL). He was an avid outdoorsman, photographer and gardener. Joe owned the first Dairy Queen in Farragut. He was preceded in death by his parents, Everett Rice and Martha Pitman Walton; sisters, Nancye Walton Delph and Mollie Walton McCarthy; and nephew, Edward Walton McCarthy. Joe is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Doris Moore Walton and his daughters and sons-in-law, Jean McGowan and Paul (Mike) McGowan, Jr., D.D.S., Jill Gilbertson and Tom Gilbertson, Julia Tobler and retired Major Brian Tobler. He was a devoted grandparent to: Justin Rich, Walton Gilbertson, Megan Garland, Max Garland and Ali Gilbertson, and step-grandchildren: Paul McGowan III and Gavin McGowan, all of Knoxville; Taylor Tobler, Kyle Tobler and Haley Tobler of California. Joe is also survived by his niece, Martha McCarthy and nephew, David McCarthy of Harlan, Kentucky; Carl Delph, Indianapolis, IN; and Joe Delph, Lexington KY. The Walton family would like to extend their deep gratitude to Udit Chaudhuri, M.D. and his staff, CARIS Hospice, Always Best Care, and Gentiva Health Services, for the loving care they provided to Joe and his family. A Memorial Service will be held at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, October 5, 2014 at Concord United Methodist Church with Reverend Brent Hall officiating. Visitation to follow at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Concord United Methodist Church Building Fund or Good Samaritan Fund, 11020 Roane Drive, Knoxville, TN 37934. Click Funeral Home Farragut Chapel, 11915 Kingston Pike is serving the Walton family. www.clickfh.com