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Billy 'Bill' J. O'Kain Oak Ridge, TN QCWA # 27709 Chapter 60 |
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Billy Joe O'Kain (Bill), 89, of Oak Ridge, died Tuesday, April 28, 2020. He was born February 20, 1931, at Jackson's Chapel, TN, in Dickson County, and moved with his family to Concord, TN, in Knox County in September 1943. He attended Farragut High School in his 8th, 9th, and 10th grades before he and his family moved to Oak Ridge, TN, in May 1945. He attended Oak Ridge High School and played varsity baseball and basketball, graduating in 1948.
Bill is preceded in death by his parents, Grady O'Kain, Sr. and Katherine Miller O'Kain, sister Mae O'Kain Gill, brother Grady O'Kain, Jr. and survived by his wife of 68 years, Ruby McGinnis O'Kain, and daughters Ginger O'Kain, and Linda O'Kain Clark (Mike), both of Oak Ridge; grandchildren Landon Clark (Kayla) and Kelsie Clark Suggs (Clint), and great-grandchildren, Jace, Lila, and Lainey Clark, and Logan Suggs, all of Knoxville; brothers, Jim O'Kain of Oak Ridge, Doyle O'Kain (Linda) of Huntsville, AL, and David O'Kain (Katy) of Oak Ridge, and several nieces and nephews.
Bill attended UT Knoxville from 1949 to 1953, awarded an Athletic Scholarship, and was a right-handed pitcher on the Vols Baseball team in 1950, 1951, and 1952, including the 1951 College World Series team that were national runner-up champions to Oklahoma.
He began Bill O'Kain Insurance Agency in 1956 and continued until 1989 when it became O'Kain and Clark Insurance Agency, and retired in 1996.
Bill was a faithful member of Robertsville Baptist Church since 1948, serving several years as a SS teacher, several terms as an ordained deacon, Evangelism Explosion ministry team leader, and on other committees.
He was an avid Amateur Radio Operator since he was first licensed as K4LTA in 1956, and a member of the world-wide First Class CW Operators Club, Oak Ridge Amateur Radio Club, East Tennessee DX Association and American Radio Relay League. He and Ruby enjoyed 23 trips to the Caribbean to operate in many DX contests with ham radio friends. He also loved to travel and enjoyed planning trips stateside and abroad with his family, visiting ham radio friends around the world.
In 2002 he wrote his autobiography, Love Transcends All, about his family, life, challenges, and triumphs. As he wrote in his book 'We should all remember that God loves each of us with a love that is so great that we can't even comprehend it. This is the type of love that transcends all and can be the guiding principle in our lives. Sometimes, when trouble comes our way, it is difficult to see any blessings we are receiving, but to look back on all our days that we can remember, we can clearly see the blessings. I hope you will be encouraged and keep looking up to our Creator and trusting in His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. Without Him life would not be worth living. When we think about the future, what more can we look forward to? We can look forward to each day we are given and strive to make it worthwhile. We can try to share some of the love showered on us with others around us, knowing the ultimate prize and goal of Eternal Life awaits those who follow Him.'
Due to the Coronavirus pandemic, a private graveside and burial will be held with family, at Anderson Memorial Gardens. Keeping in mind the 10-person limit for public gatherings, friends may call at Weatherford Mortuary on Saturday, May 2, 2020 from 11am - 1pm. Any memorial gifts may be made to Robertsville Baptist Church, 251 Robertsville Road, Oak Ridge, TN.
