 |
| Home | News | Contact Classmates | In Memory of | Class Museum | Looking Back | Look at us Now | We got together | 1966 in Review |
  Yearbook  Reunions  Message Board  Live Chat  Photo Galleries  Discussion Groups  Guestbook  Offsite Links |
 Oak Ridge High School Class of 1966 - Latest News 05-01-2014 - Father of Diane Workman Johnson Claude ‘C.W.’ Workman Claude “C.W.” Workman was born on a chilly New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, 1913. It seemed he was born with a ball in his fist and persistence in his heart. Yes, the stars shone brighter that evening over 100 years ago. Claude “C.W.” Workman was born on a chilly New Year’s Eve, Dec. 31, 1913. It seemed he was born with a ball in his fist and persistence in his heart. Yes, the stars shone brighter that evening over 100 years ago. By the age of four, Claude spent hours a day throwing his ball against the side of the Workman Farmhouse in Jefferson County. He learned to be quick and accurate. When the Workman family moved to Knoxville, Claude’s biggest hero of the day was Babe Ruth. This was baseball’s “Golden Age.” After spring training, it was not unusual for various leagues to stop at Knoxville’s Caswell Park to play exhibition games. As the doors opened a wide-eyed Claude stood and watched “Murderers’ Row” descend in their Yankee uniforms. Feeling a powerful tug on his shoulder, Babe Ruth put his heavy arm around Claude. He asked, “Kid, do you want to go into the game?” My father was speechless as Babe Ruth kept his mighty arm around my father’s shoulders and walked him through the gates into the park. At this precise moment Babe Ruth became Claude’s one and only hero for life, yes, that was the way it happened. Claude’s positive attitude and determination were formed for life and he never stopped playing ball. Even the St. Louis Cardinals sent scouts to Knoxville to view Claude. Claude slugged four base hits. Sadly, he was not signed due to his size. My father was fast and could turn a ball even faster! He moved to Oak Ridge during the war and he spent many years at K-25. He was asked to be their first paid sports manager. He played and managed and took the team to their first Tournament Championship in 1954. Many years were spent umpiring and refereeing. He was invited to become a major league umpire, but chose to remain home with his beloved family. He remained with Union Carbide for 34 years and retired from Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in 1979 Claude was forever singing. A gentle spirit, he praised God daily during good times and bad. He remained young at heart until his death. Claude was married to the late Frances Tilson Workman. He is survived by two daughters, Karen and Diane, and his two grandchildren, Bill Muenzer and Alyson Muenzer, and great-grandchild Wil Lynn. A special thanks to Mr. Michael Dohoney, who kept vigil with Diane during her father’s final days, and Mrs. Kese Dohoney for her many kindnesses. For the past 19 years of his life, he shared a special relationship with Rachel Craver of Knoxville, her family became his extended family, providing him with three more children and two more grandchildren. All loved him, both survivors and extended family, very deeply. He was a charter member of Central Baptist Church Oak Ridge. Visitation with the family will be May 2, 2014 from 7 to 8 p.m. at the Martin Oak Ridge Funeral Home with service at 8 p.m. with the Rev. Glenn Ellis officiating. Burial will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, May 3, 2014 at Oak Ridge Memorial Park Martin Oak Ridge Funeral Home is serving the Workman family www.Martinfuneralhommeoakridge.com. http://www.oakridger.com/article/20140430/NEWS/140439979  Return to Latest News |
|
To obtain a site like this for your class visit www.ourclassonline.com. [Administration] |
|
| Copyright Web Portal People, LLC. 2024 - Maker of class reunion & family websites. All rights reserved. |