Oradean Upchurch Ernst

Oradean Upchurch Ernst, age 88, of Knoxville and near Jamestown, went peacefully into our Father’s Heavenly arms, with her husband and sister by her side, on May 2, 2015 at Tennova Residential Hospice after a 7-year battle with Alzheimer’s. She was a beautiful, outgoing person who was interested in everything and everyone; a very caring and loving wife; a mother, grandmother, and great grandmother by marriage; loved to travel, golf, bowl, cook, and do craftwork; and especially loved to socialize and be involved with her family and many friends. She worked at Oak Ridge when it was the “Secret City”, and later with the Atomic Energy Commission and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission in Atlanta and Bethesda, MD. When she married Malcolm in February 1971, she became a gracious and loving homemaker for him and his three teen-age children. Preceded in death by her parents Perry and Sylvia Barton Upchurch; sisters Wilma Upchurch and Kathlene Lawson; brothers-in-law Brickey Bloomer, Kenneth Carr, Edward Marvin, and Glenn Lawson; son by marriage Robert Ernst; and grandson by marriage Joseph Dahdah. Survivors include a devoted and loving husband, Malcolm (Mal) Ernst; daughters by marriage Linda Ernst Schmidt (Loren) and Susan Ernst Dasa; grandchildren by marriage Amoreena Dahdah, Samuel Margarella, Deborah Margarella (Andrea Laing), Charity Gonzalez (Lelis), Robert Ferry, and Christa Dahdah; great grandchildren by marriage Indy and Ollie Dahdah; brothers Jerry Upchurch (Darlene) and George Upchurch; sisters Maggie Bloomer, Johnnie O’Neal (John), Thera Carr, Alice Marvin, and Brenda Franklin (Ben); and many nephews, nieces, grand nephews, and grand nieces. Family will receive friends on Tuesday, May 5th, at Christ United Methodist Church, 7535 Maynardville Highway in Halls, from 5:30 to 7:30 pm, followed by a Celebration of Life service with Rev. Charla Sherbakoff officiating. The interment processional will begin at Mynatt Funeral Home Halls Chapel, at 10:15 am on Wednesday, May 6th, ending at Woodhaven Memorial Garden, 160 Edgemore Road, Powell for interment at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers the family asks that memorial donations be made to the Kay Senior Care Center, 900 Henley Street, Knoxville 37902, or to Tennova Residential Hospice, 7447 Andersonville Pike, Knoxville 37938.