Obituaries

G. Ann (Neese) Wade, BA’49, of Camp Hill, PA, Dec. 1, 2025. She was a teacher until she married her husband, John, who preceded her in death. Ann was a member of the Eberly’s Mill Church of God, the Highland Women’s Club, the Faculty Women’s Club at Penn State University, The Civil War Roundtable and Timberwolves for WWII veterans, and she was a tour guide at the Peace Church. She enjoyed crafts, sewing, quilting, sailing and hiking, and especially spending time with her family. She is survived by her four children, John S. (Sherry) Wade, James A. (Helen) Wade, Robert D. Wade, and Margaret Ann Boehm; six grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. 

Frances Stepp Ragland, BA’52, of Ooltewah, TN, Jan. 19, 2026. She is survived by sons George S. Ragland and Col. Lee B. (Regie) Ragland, USMC; granddaughters Sara Zendejas and Katie (Chris) Sinsheimer; sister Lila Jane Verfurth; nieces Lisa (Steve) McNeill and Leigh Ayn (Elias) Haralambakis, four great-grandchildren, and three grandnieces and nephew. She also was a graduate of Dalton High School (’48) and The Ward-Belmont School (’50).  

Marvin Sydney Betnatsky, BA’56, JD’58, of Bay St. Louis, MS, April 7, 2026. After graduating from Vanderbilt Law School, Marvin moved back to his hometown of Memphis where he was in private practice for 54 years. Marvin was a member of Beth Shalom Synagogue in Memphis, and his quiet faith was an important part of his life. He and his wife moved to Bay St. Louis in retirement. Marvin will be remembered as a kind and generous man, known for his dry sense of humor and his deep love for his family and his cherished cats, Sadie, Felix and Biscuits. Marvin is survived by his wife, Patricia; his children, Lynn (Steve Martin), Todd (Hiroko Nakamura) and Maryellen Neudecker; three grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; brother Robert; as well as a host of nieces, nephews and close friends who will miss him dearly. 

’58 

Mary Helen Pritchett, BS’58, of Nashville, Dec. 2, 2025. Mary Helen was educated at Overbrook School, Palmer, Hillsboro High School and Vanderbilt University, where she met and married the late Thomas V. Harkins, the father of her children. Mary Helen is survived by her children, Tommy (Shelley)  Harkins Jr. , Memphis; Gary M. Harkins, New York; Terri Harkins, Nashville; and Dan F. Harkins, College Grove, TN; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; sisters, Judy Durham, Anne Duncan, Jane Pritchett, Susan Allison; brother, Thomas M. Pritchett Jr. Mary Helen was a loving mother and friend, a devout Christian and always had a smile and a hug for those she knew. 

Edward James White, BA’60, of Kinsale, VA, Dec. 3, 2025. After Vanderbilt, Edward served as an officer in the Navy on the carrier USS Forrestal and the destroyer USS Borie. He would go on to graduate from University of Virginia Law School in 1967 and serve as assistant attorney general of Virginia from 1967 to 1970, specializing in criminal appellate work and civil rights defense litigation. He was a special assistant to U.S. Sen. Harry F. Byrd Jr. in 1970-72 and was in private law practice in Alexandria from 1972 to 1997, when he moved to Kinsale. Edward remained very involved in his community, indulged in a number of hobbies and authored several books. He is survived by nieces Karen Duvier Holcomb of Nashville; Susan Duvier Bass of College Grove, TN; Emily Duvier Zimmerman of Florida; and nephew Henry A. Duvier Ill of Cookeville, TN, as well as 10 great-nieces and -nephews, two great-great nephews, and a great-great niece. 

Eleanor "Ellie" Walker Threlkel, BA’60, of Winter Haven, FL, Feb. 14, 2026. Born in Hawaii and raised in Washington, Ellie later attended Vanderbilt where she met her husband, Jim. They were the first couple to be married in Benton Chapel on campus. While Jim was in medical school, Ellie supported the family as a bank teller and second-grade teacher. The couple raised a family in Winter Haven, where Ellie was active in the garden club and served as mayor and on the City Commission. Ellie is survived by her husband; daughters Kit and Peggy of Winter Haven; grandson, Kasey, of Odessa, FL; and numerous friends and loved ones. 

Joseph "Joe" Clement Hearne, BA’61, of Wilmington, NC, Nov. 30, 2025. Joe grew up in the family building supply business, which inspired his career in land development. After a stint in the Marines, he owned several car dealerships before transitioning to real estate development. He will be remembered for living a long, adventurous life surrounded by family and friends. He was an avid scuba diver who took his family on many sun-filled Caribbean vacations. Preceded in death by his wife, Nancy Kise Hearne, Joe is survived by daughters Ashley Miller and Heather (Brian) Jackson ; son Joseph C. (Stephanie) Hearne II; grandchildren; his grand-dog, Max, and his constant feline companion, Snowy. 

William “Bill” Edwin Oakley, BE’61, of Wilmington, NC, Jan. 10, 2026.  After Vanderbilt, Bill earned an MBA at Baruch College. He became COO and then owner of Wright Chemical Corporation. He was issued a patent, founded or chaired numerous companies, and served on the boards of chemical organizations. In his spare time, he wrote genealogy books and played golf. Bill was highly involved in local organizations, including the YMCA, and he endowed multiple college scholarships. Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Jo. He is survived by a daughter and a son and their spouses; two grandchildren; and his sister, Mary Lou Oakley Walsh, BA’63, and her family. 

Thomas “Tom” Wilson Hart, BE’62, of Lebanon, TN, Nov. 30, 2025. Tom graduated from Vanderbilt as a professional engineer. He was vice president of Wright Industries and later owned and operated Hart Engineering until his retirement. Tom loved being with his family and friends, hunting, fishing, antique cars, Vanderbilt football and basketball, and the Lebanon senior center, where he loved playing cards and shooting pool. Preceded in death by his wife of 34 years, Janet Barton Hart, and grandchild Amber Durham, Tom is survived by his children Debra L. Dishmon, Thomas W. (Linda Gail) Hart, Kim (Barry) McKenzie; stepchildren Kimberly Dowlen Ryder and Shannon Dowlen Jenkins; grandchildren; great-grandchildren; great-great-grandchildren; as well as numerous friends and loved ones. 

Sally Cheshire Habermeyer, BA’62, of Groton, CT, Dec. 6, 2025. Sally grew up in Nashville and attended The Harpeth Hall School and Randolph-Macon Women's College. At Vanderbilt University, she was a member of the Delta Delta Delta sorority. Sally was an extremely gifted artist, seamstress and dollhouse constructor. She sewed her own clothes, made costumes for the family on festive occasions and painted renditions of their many homes. She is survived by her husband, Howard William "Bill" Habermeyer Jr.; sons James Howard (Emily) Habermeyer and William Ross (Katie) Habermeyer; grandchildren; and brother, James Ross Cheshire III. 

Michael Webster Broadbear, BA’63, of Marietta, GA, Dec. 27, 2025. Michael grew up in Atlanta, where he excelled academically and led his football team to victories. Continuing to higher education, he was accepted to Vanderbilt University where he starred on the football team, earned his law degree and was named Distinguished Military Graduate in ROTC. He later earned his JDD at Emory University after a tour of duty in Vietnam. He launched a 60-year career in the legal profession and was respected as a preeminent lawyer, not only in Atlanta, but in several counties throughout Georgia. He was an early member of the Atlanta Vietnam Veterans Business Association and served in many leadership capacities. He also served as legal counsel for the Georgia Military Veterans Hall of Fame, a nonprofit that recognizes the sacrifices and contributions of Georgia’s military heroes. Michael is survived by his longtime devoted partner, Marilyn Weitzel; son Michael Broadbear Jr.; and two granddaughters. 

James Brewer “JB” Cochran II, BA’66, of Memphis, Dec. 4, 2025. JB graduated from Vanderbilt University and UTCHS College of Dentistry, and, after completing his duty in the U.S. Public Health Service, he began a 50-year practice of dentistry in Memphis. He loved and appreciated his patients, and many became like extended family members. JB was known for his love of friends and family and enjoyed traveling, duck hunting, fly fishing, reading, listening to music and observing outdoor nature. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Linda Wylie Cochran; son, James “Jim” Brewer (Holley) Cochran III of Jonesboro; and his precious granddaughter, Riley Marie Cochran.

Thomas Copping Jones, BA’66, of New Bern, NC, Dec. 2, 2025. After majoring in English, his career included journalism, public television and media relations. He married his wife, Ginny, in Florida in 1973, then moved to Connecticut. Upon retiring in 2000, they fulfilled their dream of a three-month cross-continent road trip and a three-month trip to Australia. In 2002, they moved to New Bern, and scarcely a day went by that Tom didn’t mention how happy he was. In addition to his wife, he is survived by Ginny’s brother and sister-in-law, Larry and Mary Jane McKnight of Jacksonville, FL; and his nieces and their families.

John R. “Jack” Stewart, BA’66, JD’70, of Germantown, TN, Feb. 12, 2026. Jack was a member of Phi Kappa Sigma. After earning his law degree, he worked briefly for Fowler, Young and Pearl, a labor law firm, before joining the law department of Schering-Plough, where he worked from 1971 to 2000. Jack spent six weeks in isolation with polio between first and second grade. While he recuperated, the boys in the neighborhood played knee football to include him in the game. Everyone from the fourth grade up played on their knees. He spent a brief period on a wheelchair basketball team but had to drop out. All the other players were disabled Vietnam vets on disability, while he had to get up and go to work the next morning. He is survived by his wife, Jackie, and four children: Virginia Lee (Billy) Mueller, Kathleen Vance (Matthew) Jordan, both of Germantown; Emily Stewart (Dennis) Jones of Basking Ridge, NJ; and Lee McDaniel Stewart of Sacramento, CA; and four grandchildren. 

John Peabody Martiniere Jr., BE’68, of Canton, GA, Nov. 20, 2025. Known affectionately by many as Jock, he passed away peacefully at age 79 after a valiant battle with multiple system atrophy. At Vanderbilt, John was involved in Tau Beta Pi, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. He served as a naval officer for five years, dedicating himself to the mastery of naval tactics and strategy. John was a beacon of intelligence, passion and generosity throughout his remarkable life. Above all, John was a devoted father and Pop-Pop. He is survived by daughters Liz Mingus and Meghan Martiniere, daughter-in-law Frances Walsh, and grandson Aidan Smith. His marriage to Junith Smitherman, spanning 18 years, blessed him with his beloved children. While his cherished cat, Miss Peabody, predeceased him, the memories they made continue to bring smiles to all who knew John. 

Carolyn Ann Rush Bower, BSN ’69, of St. Louis, MO, Feb. 24, 2025. While at Vanderbilt, she was proud to be elected president of her sorority, Chi Omega. Upon graduation she practiced nursing at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, where she met her future husband, Dr. Richard J. Bower. They were happily married for more than 55 years and had two sons, Ken and Matthew Bower. They were all avid St. Louis Cardinals fans, and the family attended Spring Training in Florida for dozens of years together. Carolyn loved golf, tennis and pickleball and enjoyed being with her good friends — who all loved her. She was preceded in death by her husband and is survived by her two sons and four grandchildren. 

Donald Patrick Burney, MD’70, MD’77, of Charlotte, NC, Nov. 23, 2025. Born in Oak Ridge, TN, and raised in Corpus Christi, TX, Pat attended Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO, and completed his internship, his general surgery residency and his cardiothoracic surgery fellowship at Vanderbilt University Hospital. Pat is survived by his loving wife, Charlotte, of almost 58 years; their sons J.D. (Leif) Burney of Fort Mill, S.C., and Joe (Jennifer) Burney of Charlotte, N.C.; and their daughter, Elizabeth Burney (Michael) Malinzak of Durham, N.C.; seven grandchildren; his brother, Michael (Rita) Burney of Durant, OK; and his sister, Janet (Joe) Hornblower of Riviera, TX. 

Byrd Douglas Earthman, BE’71, of Memphis, TN, Feb. 19, 2026. Born Nov. 26, 1949, in Kingsport, TN, he moved to Nashville in the late 1950s. Doug studied mechanical engineering at Vanderbilt and was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity. He received a law degree from Memphis State University in 1973, where he was a member of the law review. He practiced municipal bond and real estate law for more than 50 years and was recognized in Chambers USA, Best Lawyers in America and Mid-South Superlawyers. He was inducted as a fellow of the American College of Bond Counsel in 2015. He received a lung transplant in 2013 at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and a kidney transplant in 2018 at St. Thomas Hospital. He is survived by two daughters, a son, a sister, four grandchildren and extended family. 

Robert E. Cottrell, BE’71, of Raleigh, NC, Dec.18, 2025. Bob worked as a civil and electrical engineer for Cottrell & House and later opened in other businesses in sales and software. Bob was passionate about his many interests, including music, sports, camping and being as involved as he could in his kids’ lives. In his last 14 years, Bob was a devoted pappy to his grandchildren and delighted in teaching them new ways to annoy their parents. Whenever he had a moment to himself, Bob could often be found fishing. Bob is survived by his wife, Marilyn, BA’69, MA’73; son Ed (Sarah) Cottrell; daughters Annie (Nick) Lusk and Meredith (Matt) Jones; grandchildren Sadie, Mikey, Genny, Catherine and Elizabeth; and many extended family members and friends.

Elbert Wayne Hawkins, MA’73, of Springfield, MO, Nov. 30, 2025. Wayne was a mathematical genius who earned an additional mathematics degree from Arkansas State University after graduating from Vanderbilt. Wayne worked for many years as a college professor at North Arkansas College, where he shaped the minds and futures of countless students. When he wasn’t teaching, he enjoyed modeling and acting. He was an avid walker, participating in many local 5K events and often winning first place. Wayne is survived by his son, Brandon (Heather) Hawkins of Harrison; sister, Yvonne Hawkins Frandolig of Little Rock; four grandchildren, Pierce Rowan Hawkins, Alexis Adams, and Lela Adams, all of Harrison, and Austin Evans, of Springfield, MO; a great-granddaughter, a niece, and a host of other family members and friends who will miss him dearly. 

Clifton Fenning “Fenn” Pierce, JD’73, of Coshocton, OH, Dec. 1, 2025. Born and raised in Coshocton, Fenn earned a BA from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1969, then married his wife, Carol Hess. Together they moved to Nashville, where he earned a law degree from Vanderbilt. He returned home to Coshocton and later served as judge of the Probate and Juvenile Court of Coshocton County. Over more than 28 years on the bench, he was known for his steady presence and thoughtful listening.  He is survived by his wife and by his daughters, Hallie Pierce (Monty) Montague, Kara Pierce (Carlos) Haynes and Jordan Pierce (Chris) Attl; and several grandchildren. 

Nina Anne Delk, BS’76, of Beaufort, SC, Dec. 5, 2025. Nina grew up in Savannah, GA, earned her teaching degree from Peabody College, and would go on to become the founding principal of Saint Francis Cabrini Catholic School in Savannah. When Nina retired in 2019 after a 34-year career in education, she bought a camper trailer, learned how to haul it and traveled the country as a work camper. She lived in SC, TX, MT, AZ, CO, and several places in GA. She had so many adventures and left behind a trail of friends all over the country. She is survived by her daughter, Jessica (Bob Dabkowski), of Colorado.

Tobias Dillon Houghton, BE’22, of Nashville, Dec. 5, 2025. Tobias loved spending time with his three brothers and his many friends. He enjoyed traveling the world, “nerding out” on water infrastructure and meeting new people. From his mom, he cherished all things in the natural world. Rooting for Vanderbilt football and basketball and the New York Knicks was a favorite pastime he shared with his dad and brothers. He was in his happy place at the Villager Tavern with his friends. Most recently, Tobias was a student in the doctorate program in environmental engineering at the University of Texas at Austin. 

Arman Moazampour, BE’23, of New York City, Nov. 10, 2025. Arman, 24, had Ewing sarcoma but never gave up hope, continuing chemotherapy and fighting until his final day. He graduated Bayonne High School as salutatorian, served as captain of the swim team and earned a black belt in tae kwon do. A gifted musician, he excelled at piano and violin. At Vanderbilt, he was on the Equestrian Team. Arman loved Vanderbilt and Nashville and lived there as long as possible, until medical needs necessitated being near his hospital in New York City. He always hoped to return to Nashville. Arman was a kind, generous and strong soul who lifted everyone around him and left a lasting impact.