Ray Sturgis Booth

Booth, Ray Sturgis, 79, a loving and devoted husband, father, and grandfather, passed away suddenly at home on Sunday, October 15, 2017. Born in Miami, Florida, Ray and his family later moved to Homestead, Florida, where he earned recognition as a national merit scholar, an all-conference basketball player, and a participant in track competitions at the state level representing South Dade High School. His continuing education at the University of Florida included a bachelor of electrical engineering, a master of science in nuclear engineering, and a Ph.D. in nuclear engineering. Upon completing his education, Ray served for three years in the United States Air Force as an instructor of physics at the Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, in Ohio. After his honorable discharge in 1968 with the rank of captain, he became employed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) where he served in various research, management, and engineering positions until his retirement in 1997. Ray’s research accomplishments included over 80 publications mostly in the areas of basic physics, environmental modeling, and modeling and control of nuclear systems, with the last being published in 2017. He was on special assignment to the Clinch River Breeder Reactor Project Office from June 1981 to October 1983 directing instrumentation and licensing activities. In 1984 he was elected a Fellow in the American Nuclear Society. His highest positions as manager at ORNL were Section Head in the Instrumentation and Controls Division and Manager of the ORNL Light Water Reactor and Liquid Metal Reactor Research Programs. Specialists under his management monitored the depressurization of the hydrogen gas bubble at Three Mile Island through measurements of the primary system of the plant. He also served on a special U.S. Department of Energy Task Force that studied the causes of the Chernobyl Nuclear Accident and made recommendations for corrective actions. For two years prior to his retirement he served as System Engineer for the Spallation Neutron Source Research Facility, an international neutron research complex completed at ORNL in 2008. After retiring, Ray taught mathematics part time at Pellissippi State Technical Community College in Knoxville, Tennessee. In 2008 he was elected by the faculty and staff of the institution as the outstanding adjunct instructor for that year. He also volunteered his time for many years tutoring students because he had a heart for those who struggled in math. Ray has been an active member of Presbyterian churches since high school, having served for over 45 years in the choirs at Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church and later at West Hills Presbyterian Church. He also greatly enjoyed his work with the Good News Club. His hobbies included the study of physics and mathematics, Bible study, writing poetry, and music. He and his wife Judy also found great pleasure in many Road Scholar trips throughout the United States and abroad. He was particularly pleased with the completion of a Family Book containing writings and information by and about his ancestors and extended family that was completed with his father and daughter Kerry. Preceded in death by his parents, Clyde V. Booth and Bertha Hutchison Booth, he is survived by his beloved wife of fifty-five years Judith, daughters Shannon Beal (Dennis), Meredith Busic (John) and Kerry Osborne (Randy); grandchildren, Heather Beal, Jonathan Beal, Benjamin Busic, Joseph Busic, Stephen Busic, Laura Osborne and Leslie Osborne; siblings, Edgar Booth (Anne), Connie Wynn (Brian), Patricia Cooper (Harry) and James Booth (Nancy). The family will receive friends on Thursday, October 19, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at West Hills Presbyterian Church (7600 Bennington Drive NW, Knoxville, Tennessee 37909) with a graveside service with the Rev. John McKenzie officiating on Friday, October 20 at 11:00 a.m. at the Berry Highland Memorial Cemetery (5315 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, Tennessee). In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the World Missions Fund of West Hills Presbyterian Church.

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Ray Sturgis Booth

October 5, 1938 - October 15, 2017