C Joseph Waddle

View Funeral WebcastClarence Joseph Waddle, 89, retired Technical Superintendent for E. I. DuPont/Spontex, died April 14, 2013. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Donna Hickman Waddle of Columbia; daughters, MaryLee (Keith) Johnson and Cindy (Randy) Short, both of Columbia; grandchildren, Tyler Short (Melissa) of Newport News, VA; Adam Short of Knoxville; Allison Johnson of Murfreesboro; Wes Johnson of Columbia; great granddaughter, Lyla Short of Newport News, VA; nephew, Tim Perry (Diane) of Franklin; cousins, Annella Creech, Jack Creech and Leon Creech, all of Hermitage; Joyce Voorhies of Franklin, and Katherine Dueltgen of Loganville, GA; great nephew, Clay Perry of Norfolk, VA; and great nieces Sarah Perry of Nashville and Linda Grace Perry of Brentwood. He was preceded in death by his father, Clarence Waggner Waddle and his mother, Mary Josephine Holland Waddle; sister, Dorothy (Herschel) Perry and niece, Judy Perry Bumbalough. A native of Nashville, he graduated from West End High School in 1942 and attended Vanderbilt University for one year before enlisting into military service on May 11, 1943. He trained at Camp McQuade, California, and was stationed in the A.S.T.P. Units at Stanford University and the University of Nevada before his transfer to Camp Cooke, California. Later in 1943, he concluded his studies and was sent to Europe to serve in "C" Company, 55th Armored Infantry Battalion, the Eleventh Armored Division of General S. Patton's Third Army known as "The Thunderbolts". He served as an anti-tank gunner in England, France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Austria and Czechoslovakia. His military decorations include the Purple Heart when he was wounded in Wegscheid, Germany during the last days of World War II. After the war, he had the opportunity to remain in France for one year to study at Biarritz American University majoring in micro-chemistry, Spanish, French, and horticulture. While studying there he was privileged to reside in the Hotel du Palais which was originally the imperial residence of Napoleon III and Empress Eugenie. During his lifetime this experience always remained a special memory for him. After returning to the States, he studied at Stanford University before transferring back to Vanderbilt University where he graduated with a degree in chemical engineering in 1949. After graduation, he worked for Victor Chemical Company for 3 years in their phosphorus research group first in Mt. Pleasant and then in Silver Bow, Montana. He did research to design practical methods of mining and processing phosphate ore to collect elemental phosphorus. In 1953, DuPont built a plant in Columbia to make cellulose sponge from wood pulp as a replacement for expensive natural sponge from the ocean. In 1954 he was offered a job as technical superintendent with DuPont to obtain and organize a technical group of chemists and chemical engineers to set up process control and quality standards for a synthetic sponge made from cellulose wood pulp in the Columbia plant. In 1955, sponges from Columbia were being sold throughout the United States and Europe. He retired from DuPont in 1982 and went to work for the new owners of the Columbia plant, a French company called Chargeurs S.A. They had plants in France making similar cellulose products that DuPont had made and he often traveled to France as technical advisor for them before finally retiring in 1985. He was a member of Herbert Griffin American Legion Post #19, a former member of the Columbia Rotary Club, Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity, Vanderbilt Alumnae Club, the Vanderbilt Quing Club, the 11th Armored Division Association, the advisory board of First Farmers and Merchants National Bank, the American Red Cross, the DuPont Wednesday Lunch Group, and the Maury Regional Medical Center Hospital Auxiliary Superstars. He was a member of First United Methodist Church where he taught Adult Sunday School classes for over 40 years, a member of the Fellowship Sunday School Class, and a lay speaker. He helped organize the "Young at Heart Group" at First United Methodist Church and served as its first President. He also served on various church committees, as well as Chairman of the Administrative Council. On a return visit to Belgium in April 1997, during a formal ceremony he was made an honorary citizen of Bastogne by Msr. Andre Hubert, President of C.R.I.B.A. and the Belgian Historical Society. The mayor of Bastogne presented him with a "Battle of the Bulge" medal, and a tree was planted in the park in his honor. He was also presented the G.R.E.G. medal in Luxembourg, in June 2001, for his contribution to their liberation. This made him an honorary member of Luxembourg's Historical Society as well. In his free time he enjoyed traveling in Europe and throughout the United States where he made many lasting friendships along the way. Gardening was a lifelong hobby, and he especially enjoyed sharing his flowers with others. He was dedicated to his family, to his church, to his country, and to our National Parks. He was a great believer in the preservation of anything pertaining to nature. A memorial service will be conducted 2:00 P.M. Saturday at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Keith Johnson and Rev. Tommy Vann officiating. Military honors will be provided by Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19. The family will visit with friends Saturday from 1:00 - 2:00 P.M. at the funeral home. The family suggests memorials to First United Methodist Church, 222 West Seventh Street, Columbia, TN 38401; the American Heart Association, 1818 Patterson Street, Nashville, TN 37203; The Alzheimer's Association, 4825 Trousdale Drive, Suite 220, Nashville, TN 37220; or The American Red Cross, 2201 Charlotte Avenue, Nashville, TN 37203. Condolences may be offered online at www.oakesandnichols. Honorary pallbearers include friends, members of the Fellowship Sunday School Class, retirees of DuPont/Spontex, and the Maury Regional Medical Center Hospital Auxiliary and Superstars. The family appreciates so much the loving care given by Valerie Gant and the North Hall Life Care staff while Joe was a patient there.