William Adams Pryor, II
Help us celebrate William! Please share your stories and photos, and invite others who remember William.
William Adams Pryor, II, 96, of Oak Ridge, TN, passed away on Wednesday, February 2, 2022, at Canterfield of Oak Ridge. He was born in Moultrie, Georgia, on November 30, 1925, to Robert McBride Pryor, Sr., and Frances Whitaker Pryor. He graduated from Moultrie High School in 1942. He attended Georgia Tech and was in the Naval ROTC V-12 program. He received his Naval commission as an Ensign in October 1945. He attended the Naval Officer Steam Engineering School in Newport, RI. In the fall of 1946, he continued his education at the University of Georgia majoring in Physics and received his B.S. degree in December 1948. He started working in Oak Ridge at K-25 Gaseous Diffusion Plant in February 1949. In the summer of 1959, he took a job with General Electric in Cincinnati, OH. He was involved with GE's Aircraft Nuclear Propulsion Project. In the summer of 1961, he returned to Oak Ridge and took a position with the Atomic Energy Commission. He transitioned from there to ERDA and then the Department of Energy. He worked for the DOE as a nuclear criticality safety and transportation safety physicist. After retiring in 1988 from DOE, he did consult work for PEI until 1997. At UGA he was a member of Pi Kappa Phi social fraternity and served as president. He was also a member of Sigma Pi Sigma honor fraternity for physics. He remained in the Naval Reserve for many years and retired as a Lt. Commander USN. He served as chairman of the Naval Research Reserve providing Nuclear Sciences Seminars to reserve officers for all services. William married Margaret Lee Tidwell Pryor, February 16, 1952, at the Chapel on the Hill in Oak Ridge and celebrated 68 years of marriage. William and Margaret enjoyed dancing and were members of several dance clubs. Throughout their married life they enjoyed hiking in the Smokey Mountains with friends and family, traveling abroad, and especially liked cruises. William was a long time member of the First United Methodist Church of Oak Ridge. Through the years he served on various committees. William was a past member of the Oak Ridge Rotary Breakfast Club. He was a member of the Oak Ridge Senior Advisory Board for the Senior Center. William was preceded in death by his loving wife, Margaret; parents, Robert and Frances Pryor; and brother Robert M. Pryor, Jr., and wife, Robbie. Survivors include his sons, Dr. William A. Pryor, III, and wife, Dr. Nancy M. Blank, of Georgetown, TN, and Dr. Robert L. Pryor and wife, Theresa, of Oak Ridge, TN; four grandchildren: Dr. Ryan J. Pryor and wife, Diana, of Knoxville, TN; Dr. William M. Pryor and wife, Kate, of Bellevue, NE; Alison M. Pryor of Chattanooga, TN; and Kenton M. Pryor of Oak Ridge, TN; and one great-grandson, Matias J. Pryor of Knoxville, TN. He was especially grateful for his two daughters-in-law who provided essential medical care and advice. Dr. Nancy M. Blank was instrumental in his eye care and Theresa Lenihan Pryor gave many years of nursing care. He was very proud of the accomplishments of his grandchildren. Dr. Ryan J. Pryor is an oral surgeon, Dr. William M. Pryor is a general surgeon in the USAF, Alison M. Pryor is a meteorologist, and Kenton M. Pryor is a professional photographer. The family wishes to thank Kathy McCameron and the staff of Canterfield for all the care and support they have given. Brian Roberts for his friendship and many Georgia Football discussions. They would especially like to thank his personal caregivers, Vickie Braden, Mayme York, and Rebecca Ramsey, for their unconditional love and care and appreciate the guidance and care shown by Julianna Schmitt of Amedisys Hospice Care. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to First United Methodist Church of Oak Ridge, 1350 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge, TN 37830 or NARFE.org. A private family service will be held at First United Methodist before interment at Oak Ridge Memorial Park. An online guestbook is available at weatherfordmortuary.com.