Oakley Crawford

Oakley Hamilton Crawford, 77, beloved husband and father and theoretical chemist and atomic physicist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory for 30 years, passed away on Feb. 2, 2016, in Knoxville, Tenn., after a long struggle with illness.
The family remembers him for his gentle and peaceful demeanor, great sense of humor, brilliant mind and love of music, a good story, the outdoors and his loving family.
Born on Sept. 29, 1938, in Bridgeton, N.J., Oakley was the eldest son of a Baptist minister. He earned a B.S. degree in chemistry at Carson Newman College in Jefferson City, Tenn. He then attended the University of Illinois at Urbana, where he earned his Ph.D. in physical chemistry. He conducted theoretical chemistry research at both the University of Illinois and California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in Pasadena, Calif., and he did postgraduate work in theoretical atomic physics at the University of Belfast, Northern Ireland.
On Aug. 18, 1963, he married Arlene Verbeski, whom he met at the University of Illinois. Arlene Crawford, his loving wife of 52 years, is retired as long-time director of music at First Presbyterian Church of Oak Ridge and piano accompanist for the Oak Ridge Chorus.
Oakley began his academic career as an assistant professor at Penn State University. Later he taught at Barnard College in New York City.
In 1976 he moved to Oak Ridge, followed by his family in 1977, to work as a research scientist at ORNL, where he remained until he retired in 2006. He was adept at changing fields and attracting funding for new scientific projects, as he moved from the Chemistry Division to the Health Sciences Research Division and then to the Life Sciences Division.
A highly recognized theoretical chemist and atomic physicist, Oakley performed fundamental quantum mechanical calculations for simple but important chemical reactions; predicted the phenomena that result from penetration of swift ions in matter; published detailed atomic theory on negative ions and the removal of each atom's extra electron by laser light in a strong magnetic field and developed computer-based algorithms and theoretical models of use in DNA sequencing and understanding protein folding.
Oakley's cutting-edge research was published in a variety of scientific journals. His colleagues remember him for his easy, friendly manner; his ability to explain difficult mathematical theories; his wide-ranging interests and his calm, thoughtful ways during a scientific debate.
Late in his career, he taught biology at the University of Tennessee. He was a member of the American Physical Society, the American Chemical Society and the Radiation Research Society.
Oakley was a long-time member of the chancel choir at First Presbyterian Church, where he sang with a pleasing baritone-tenor voice until Arlene's retirement as choir director in 2009. He was a member of the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association board of directors in the 1980s.
• He loved soccer, served as a referee at Oak Ridge High School varsity soccer matches and played soccer regularly into his 60s. He was coach of his son's soccer team and his daughter's basketball team when they were young. He enjoyed traveling, hiking in the mountains of Tennessee and Colorado and being with family.
Besides his wife Arlene, Oakley is survived by their daughter Susan (Ross Willits) of St. Paul, Minn., and their son Brian of Denver, Col.; brothers Bob (Betty), Dan (Mary) and Jim (Cathy) Crawford and sister Helena (Frank) Sams, all of Roanoke, Va.; nephew Mike (Connie) Sams; nieces Audra Sams (Dan) Sczerba, Lisa Crawford and Clare Crawford; grandniece Lexie Sczerba and grandnephew Owen Sczerba, and brother-in-law Andrew Verbeski. Oakley is preceded in death by his parents, the Rev. Robert and Helen Crawford and stepmother Annah Lee Clingenpeel Crawford.
The family extends their gratitude to Tina Hunter and the many caregivers who attended him with such love and attention in the past few years.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Feb. 27, at First Presbyterian Church of Oak Ridge. Officiants will be the Rev. Sharon Youngs of FPC and the Rev. Jenny Caughman of First United Methodist Church, where Oakley was a member. The interment will take place at 1:30 p.m. at FPC's memorial garden, and the service celebrating and honoring Oakley's life will start at 2 p.m., with an organ prelude at 1:40 in the sanctuary. A reception will be held after the service.
The family asks that any memorial gifts be made to Alzheimer's Tennessee Inc. ( http://www.alztennessee.org/donate/ ), ORCMA or the music fund of First Presbyterian or First United Methodist church.
Martin Oak Ridge Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. An online guestbook may be signed at www.martinfuneralhomeoakridge.com .