William Pardue

Bill Pardue of Oak Ridge Tennessee was born September 14, 1935 to Louis and Mary Allie Pardue in Lexington Kentucky. Preceded in death by parents Louis and Mary Allie Pardue. Survived by wife of 58 years Ruth (Jackson) Pardue; sister Mary Lou Pardue of Cambridge MA; daughter Sara (Bill) Gibson of Columbus OH; Son Todd Pardue (Sherry) of Fairfax Station VA; Granddaughter Alexandra Pardue of Fairfax Station VA; Nephew Mark Buchanan of Dallas TX; Nephew Tim Buchanan (Rachael) of Chesapeake VA; and Niece Becky (John) Maus of Baton Rouge LA.
Bill was active in scouting as a youth earning the rank of Eagle Scout. As an adult he volunteered with Boy Scout Troop 12 in Columbus Ohio leading numerous camping trips, ski trips, Bicycling trips along the C&O Canal and a hiking trip to Philmont New Mexico.
Bill graduated High School in Blacksburg Virginia. In 1957 Bill received a BS in Metallurgical Engineering from Virginia Tech. Bill served in the ROTC while at Virginia Tech and received a Second Lieutenant commission in the Army. He was a member of Alpha Sigma Nu, Sigma Gamma Epsilon and served as president of Alpha Phi Omega. Bill received his Master of Science at the Ohio State University where he was inducted into the Tau Beta Pi fraternity.
Bill was hired by the Battelle Memorial Institute in Columbus Ohio. He made notable contributions to science and held several patients in conjunction with fellow workers. He was active in the American Society for Testing Materials. His work took him to many facilities where nuclear work was conducted, including England, Japan and France. Bill was in charge of building the Plutonium lab for Battelle. He received a citation for his contributions to the Nation's scientific outer-planetary studies. He had a significant role in the development of Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators aboard the US Voyager I and II space crafts. His work also included supporting the Office of Nuclear Waste Isolation at Argonne National Laboratory in Chicago.
In 1991 under Bill's leadership, Battelle established an office in Oak Ridge Tennessee. After his retirement in 2000 he began consulting for UT - Battelle in an effort to successfully secure the bid for the operation of the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Bill was active in Oak Ridge and served in several capacities. He was chairman of the Site Specific Advisory Board, and End-User working group. He was a member of the Industrial Development Board and the Rotary Breakfast Club.
In 2008 he became unable to continue activities due to his battle with spinal stenosis and associated problems.
His hobbies and interests were wood-working, golf, reading, and raising tropical fish. His koi pond at home brought him hours of enjoyment.
His family will receive friends at the Martin Funeral home in Oak Ridge Tennessee at 11017 Oak Ridge Turnpike on Tuesday February 23rd from 5 to 7 pm. Services will be held at the Oak Ridge Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) at 100 Gum Hollow Road on Wednesday February 24th at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Bill's name to the Oak Ridge Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), The Boy Scouts of America, or charity of choice. Martin Oak Ridge Funeral Home is serving the Pardue family 1017 Oak Ridge Turnpike Oak Ridge, TN 37830 865-483-4341