In Memoriam
Our lives have been enriched by the presence of countless faculty, administrators, and staff who dedicated themselves to Austin Peay State University. We wish to honor their memories and the impact they had on countless lives.
APSURA wishes to honor all former faculty, administrators, and staff who have passed away. If we have inadvertently left off a name from the list below, please contact Carlette Hardin at hardinc@apsu.edu with information.
Nancy B. Irby passed away on Monday, June 29, 2026. She retired from Austin Peay in 2007 as Payroll
Manager.
View Nancy's Obituary
Dr. Kil-Joong Kim passed away peacefully at the age of 84. In 1980, he joined the Department of Economics
at Austin Peay State University and taught at APSU for 46 years.
View Dr. Kim's Obituary
John Lawrence Butler passed away on June 30, 2026, at the age of 91. John served as Vice President of
Academic Affairs of Austin Peay State University from 1985 to 1996 and as a Professor
of Biology and Director of the Emerging Leaders Program, of which he was a founder,
from 1996 until his retirement in 2001.
View John's Obituary
Betty Jane Heltsley McClain, 87, passed away May 21st, 2026. She was employed at Austin Peay State University
for 40 years and retired in 2000 as the Executive Aide to the Vice-President for Finance
and Administration.
View Betty's Obituary
Solie Fott, 96, passed away on April 6, 2026. Solie was professor emeritus of music at Austin
Peay State University, where he taught from 1958 to 2003 and served as chair of the
department from 1978 to 2000.
View Solie's Obituary
Debbie Suiter passed away on March 6, 2026. She worked for Austin Peay State University, where
she was a Support Coordinator for over 39 years.
View Debbie's Obituary
Marilyn Griffy passed away on March 4, 2026. She worked for APSU in the Biology Department and then
in the Purchasing Department for 37 years.
View Marilyn's Obituary
Dr. Howard Winn passed away on Sunday, February 1, 2026. He was a History Professor on the faculty
of APSU from 1971 to 2003.
View Dr. Winn's Obituary
Dr. Sherry Lee (Howard) Hoppe passed away on January 25, 2026. Dr. Hoppe served as Austin Peay’s president from
2001 until her retirement in 2007.
View Dr. Hoppe's Obituary
Dr. James Ronald Gupton passed away on December 20, 2025. Austin Peay State University, to join the Department
of Mathematics as a Professor. He spent the next 44 years teaching in the Department
of Mathematics. He retired in 2014.
View Dr. Gupton's Obituary
Dr. Rebecca Glass passed away on December 13, 2025. She taught for 32 years in the Department of Health
and Human Performance.
View Dr. Glass's Obituary
Dr. George Mimms Rawlins III passed away on November 11, 2025. He was a retired Professor of Education from Austin
Peay State University.
View Dr. Rawlins's Obituary
Dr. Elizabeth Ann Harris passed away on November 11, 2025. She was a Professor Emeritus in the Department
of Education at Austin Peay State University.
View Dr. Harris's Obituary
Dr. Francisca Jewell Farrar, affectionately known as “Chita,” passed away peacefully on September 2, 2025, in
Phoenix, Arizona. Her career blossomed at Austin Peay State University, where she
rose to become Director of Nursing, inspiring generations of students with her expertise,
warmth, and tireless work ethic.
View Dr. Farrar's Obituary
Dr. James (Jim) Francis Thompson died August 22, 2025. Jim taught at APSU for 25 years. He first taught in the Laboratory
Science program, eventually becoming Program Director. After that, he moved to the
biology department and taught Anatomy and Physiology and Evolution until his full
retirement in 2018.
View Thompson's Obituary
Ann Rollow Ross passed away on May 27, 2025. She managed the APSU bookstore for 30 years. The Ann
R. Ross Bookstore on College St. was named in honor of her years of service and her
dedication to the university.
View Ann's Obituary
Horace Lee Johnson passed away on May 9, 2025. Mr. Johnson dedicated 26 years of service to Austin Peay
State University. He began his career working in the Physical Plant and later served
as the campus mail carrier before his retirement.
View Horace's Obituary
Dr. Oscar C. Page passed away on November 23, 2024. Dr. Page was the president of Austin Peay State
University from 1988 to 1994.
View Dr. Page's Obituary
Dr. Allene Phy-Olsen passed away on October 22, 2024. Dr. Phy-Olsen retired from the Department of Languages
and Literature. She served on the APSURA Board of Directors for nine years.
View Dr. Phy-Olsen's Obituary
Dr. Elizabeth Ann Glass passed away on February 24, 2024. Dr. Glass retired from the Department of Music.
View Dr. Glass's Obituary
Dr. David Kelland Till passed away on February 3, 2024. Dr. Till retired from the Department of Languages
and Literature.
View Dr. Till's Obituary
Hazel Irwin passed away on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, at her home in Clarksville, Tennessee.
Hazel retired from Austin Peay after 21 years of service in the accounting department,
last serving as the Director of Business Services.
View Hazel's Obituary
Dr. D.M.S. “Kiwi” Bhatia passed away on November 14, 2023. Dr. Bhatia was a Professor of Geology at Austin
Peay State University from 1977-2007.
View Dr. Bhatia's Obituary
Henry Camp Malone passed away on Friday, July 28, 2023, at Ahava Healthcare in Clarksville, Tennessee.
Henry was a career educator. He joined the Austin Peay State University staff in 1965
and was the Director of Alumni Affairs for 15 years. For the remainder of his career,
he served as Coordinator of Public Service in the College of Education.
View Henry's Obituary
William "Bill" Hardin passed away on June 29, 2023. He was a coordinator of Audio-Visual Services at Austin
Peay State University.
View Bill's Obituary
Dr. Jimmie Vandergriff passed away on May 4, 2023. He spent 26 years of service to Austin Peay State University
as a professor of math and computer science.
View Dr. Vandergriff's Obituary
Dr. Tom Hamel passed away on February 3, 2023. He spent 31 years as a professor of mathematics
and computer science at Austin Peay State University.
View Dr. Hamel's Obituary
Dr. Sara Elizabeth Gotcher passed away on January 30, 2023, at Skyline Medical Center. She retired from APSU
after 25 years of teaching in the Department of Speech, Communication, and Theater.
View Dr. Gotcher's Obituary
Bernard Pratt passed away on November 22, 2022, at his home in Belfast, Maine. Known as Ben at
APSU, he was the former director of the Physical Plant.
View Bernard's Obituary
Dr. Jill Eichhorn passed away on October 2, 2022. Dr. Eichhorn was an Associate Professor in Languages
and Literature and Coordinator of the interdisciplinary Women’s and Gender Studies.
View Dr. Eichhorn's Obituary
Betty Osborne passed away on September 1, 2022, in Clarksville, Tennessee. She retired from Austin
Peay State University, where she worked in the print shop.
View Betty's Obituary
Kenneth Earl Johnson, Sr. of Clarksville, TN, passed away Friday, July 22, 2022, at Vanderbilt University Medical
Center. He worked in the physical plant at Austin Peay State University before his
retirement.
View Kenneth's Obituary
James “Jimmie” R. Vinson passed away on Tuesday, July 12, 2022, at Tennova Healthcare of Clarksville. He was
a former Industrial Arts teacher at Austin Peay State University.
View Jimmie's Obituary
Brigadier General (Ret.) Wendell Gilbert passed away on July 8, 2022. While at Austin Peay, Wendell served as Vice President
for Development.
View BG Gilbert's Obituary
Dr. Charles Wallace Cross, Jr. of Clarksville, TN, passed away on July 1, 2022, at Alive Hospice in Nashville. Dr.
Cross was employed by APSU since 1987 and was a professor in the Department of History
and Philosophy.
View Dr. Cross's Obituary
Dr. Lori Elliott Buchanan passed away on Thursday, June 2, 2022, at her home in Clarksville. She was a library
professor for 33 years - Professor of Library Administration (1986-2019) and Interim
Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs (2014-2015) at Austin Peay State University.
She retired in 2019.
View Dr. Buchanan's Obituary
Dr. Robert O. Riggs passed away on April 20, 2022. Dr. Riggs was President of Austin Peay State University
for 11 years. He then served as Regents Professor in the Department of Leadership
at the University of Memphis.
View Dr. Riggs's Obituary
Sherry Darlene Koontz Howell passed away on March 23, 2022. She was a retired secretary from Austin Peay State
University.
View Sherry's Obituary
Sandra A. Carter passed away on March 20th, 2022, at the Bridge in Ooltewah, TN. Sandra was the coordinator
of the mathematics lab at Austin Peay State University until she retired in 1999.
View Sandra's Obituary
Philip Ronald Graham passed away on March 1, 2022, in Nashville, Tennessee. He spent 17 years at Austin
Peay State University working in the maintenance department.
View Philip's Obituary
Dr. Kenneth L. Grambihler passed away on February 9, 2022, at Tennova Healthcare in Clarksville. Following
his retirement from the Army, he taught public management at Austin Peay State University.
View Dr. Grambihler's Obituary
Linda Forbus passed away on January 16, 2022. She retired as Secretary to the Dean of Education
of Austin-Peay State University after seventeen years of service.
View Linda's Obituary
Nell M. Northington Warren passed away on January 7, 2022, at Alive Hospice Residence. Nell retired from Austin
Peay State University after serving in several positions.
View Nell's Obituary
Glinda Ann Cooper Manning passed away on October 10, 2021, at Dogwood Bend Assisted Living. She worked in the
Athletic Department at Austin Peay State University.
View Glinda's Obituary
Gerald Reinhardt Beavers passed away on September 25, 2021. He retired as Director of the Austin Peay State Fort Campbell Center.
Dr. Aaron Andrew Hutcheson died September 5, 2021. He joined Austin Peay State University in 1967 as Chairman
of the Economics Department and taught at the University for 30 years.
View Dr. Hutcheson's Obituary
Dr. Philancy Nobles Holder-Pallen, art historian and Professor Emerita of Austin Peay State University in Clarksville,
Tennessee, died on September 3, 2021, in her Clarksville, TN home. Dr. Holder taught
art history for 20 years at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tennessee.
View Dr. Holder-Pallen's Obituary
Dr. Arthur Floyd Scott passed away on April 25, 2021, from a sudden illness at Sarah Cannon Cancer Center,
Nashville, Tennessee. Floyd was a biology professor at Austin Peay State University
and one of the founding faculty members of the Center of Excellence for Field Biology.
View Dr. Scott's Obituary
Herbert Dickson (Dickie) Roake, Jr. passed away on April 18, 2021. a groundskeeper at Austin Peay State University for
20 years.
View Dickie's Obituary
Dr. Eleanor (Nora) H. Beiswenger died March 20, 2021, at home in Webster Groves, Missouri. Nora had retired from the
Department of Languages and Literature.
View Dr. Beiswenger's Obituary
Lewis Bowen Burton died January 15, 2021, following a brief illness. He was an Associate Professor of
Art at Austin Peay State University and retired in 1982.
View Lewis's Obituary
Virginia Quick passed away on November 21, 2020. She attended Austin Peay Normal School and was
first employed as a secretary during WWII at Camp Campbell, KY. She retired from APSU
after 10 years at the Emerald Hill Alumni Center.
View Virginia's Obituary
Bobby Durwood Lee passed away peacefully at home on November 13, 2020. In 1982, Bob accepted the position
of Director of Bands at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, TN, where he
retired in 2003 with the honor of Emeritus status.
View Bobby's Obituary
Dr. Hugh Akerman Jr. passed away on November 7, 2020, at Ahava Healthcare of Clarksville. He was a history
professor at Austin Peay State University for 28 years.
View Dr. Akerman's Obituary
Shelby Lynette Byard Taylor, of Clarksville, passed away Friday, August 28, 2020, at her residence. Lynette was
the former Director of The Office of Student Access Services at Austin Peay State
University.
View Shelby's Obituary
Jane Corvin Chitwood passed away on Thursday, July 9, 2020, at AHC Clarksville. She worked at Austin Peay
State University for 40 years, in several administrative roles.
View Jane's Obituary
Wynella "Mickey" B. Badgett passed away on June 1, 2020. Mickey's nursing and education journey touched the
lives of thousands of nurses across the southeast before her retirement from Austin
Peay State University.
View Wynella's Obituary
Devin Sean Hogan passed away on May 12, 2020, at his residence. In 2001, he joined the staff of Woodward
Library at Austin Peay State University. At the time of his death, he was their special
collections librarian.
View Devin's Obituary
Dr. Peter Hawkins Stoddard, Retired Austin Peay State University Professor, passed away on Thursday, April 23,
2020.
View Dr. Stoddard's Obituary
Dr. Durward Smith Harris passed away on March 27, 2020, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He came to
APSU as an assistant professor and remained in various positions for 40 years. He
was department chair for several years and pre-med advisor for 30 years, mentoring
over 50 future physicians through their undergraduate years.
View Dr. Harris's Obituary
Dr. Larry Keith Lowrance passed away on Friday, February 14, 2020, at Tennova Healthcare of Clarksville. Larry
was a retired professor of education at Austin Peay State University.
View Dr. Lowrance's Obituary
Charles Henry Hood passed away on February 5, 2020.
View Charles's Obituary
Colonel James Davis Hallums (Ret) passed away at his home in Clarksville, Tennessee, on December 26, 2019. After retiring
from the Army, Jim taught at Clarksville Academy and Austin Peay State University.
View Colonel Hallums's Obituary
Inga Anna Filippo passed away on August 17, 2019, at her residence. Inga was Professor Emerita at Austin
Peay State University, where she was a librarian and the coordinator for Swedish study
abroad.
View Inga's Obituary
Dr. John Daniel Martin, age 95, passed away June 9, 2019, while at home at Arcadia Senior Living. Dr. Martin
taught psychology for 30 years at Austin Peay State University.
View Dr. Martin's Obituary
Dr. Richard C. Yarbro passed away on May 9, 2019, at Palmyra Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Before
his retirement, he was a professor in the College of Education at Austin Peay State
University.
View Dr. Yarbro's Obituary
Max Hochstetler passed away on March 30, 2019, while at his home in Clarksville. Max was a retired
art professor from Austin Peay State University.
View Max's Obituary
Dr. Albert “A.J.” Taylor passed away on March 20, 2019, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He was a professor
at Austin Peay State University’s College of Business for twenty-eight years and the
former men’s golf coach.
View Dr. Taylor's Obituary
Dr. Jim Clemmer passed away on December 24, 2018. Jim retired as a Professor of English after teaching at APSU for 35 years. He served as one of the founding members of APSURA and as president of the organization.
Dr. Albert B. Randall passed away on October 7, 2018. Dr. Randall was a retired professor of philosophy
and taught for over 40 years at Austin Peay State University.
View Dr. Randall's Obituary
Virgial Joyce Roberts passed away on Wednesday, September 26, 2018, in Alive Hospice, Nashville. She had
been employed with Austin Peay in the campus police department as well as in Records
and Registration.
View Virgial's Obituary
James Wade Evans, Jr. passed away September 14, 2018.
View James's Obituary
Dr. Ruth Dennis passed away on May 26, 2018. She was a Professor, the Chair of the Department of
Sociology, and also the Director of the African American Cultural Center at Austin
Peay State University.
View Dr. Dennis's Obituary
Margaret Sexton Summer passed away on February 8, 2018. Before her retirement, Margaret was the Director
of the Learning Resource Center at Austin Peay State University.
View Margaret's Obituary
Joel Eugene Thomas passed away on November 11, 2017, in Harvey, LA. He was a Tech Director at Austin
Peay State University and a retired US Army veteran.
View Joel's Obituary
Dr. Donald Burton Lambert passed away on September 22. In 2017, at his residence. After completing his EdD
at Auburn in 1968, he relocated to Clarksville, TN to work at Austin Peay State University,
where he was appointed Professor and, in 1980, Chair of the Department of Education
until his retirement in 1993.
View Dr. Lambert's Obituary
Olen Bryant, age 90, passed away July 11, 2017, at Oak Hill Assisted Living. Mr. Bryant retired
from Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, TN, where he was a Professor Emeritus
of Art from 1963 to 1991.
View Olen's Obituary
Norma Jean Hand Smith passed away on May 27, 2017, at St. Thomas West Hospital. She retired from Austin
Peay State University after 36 years, where she spent most of her time in the music
department as their beloved secretary.
View Norma's Obituary
Dr. Gaines Cullom Hunt passed away on May 12, 2017. Dr. Hunt retired from Austin Peay State University,
serving as Professor and Chair of Agriculture, Assistant Vice President for Academic
Affairs, Dean of Graduate Studies and Director of Fort Campbell Programs, Interim
Dean of Arts and Sciences, and Dean of College of Science and Mathematics.
View Dr. Hunt's Obituary
Dr. Garland Eugene Blair passed away on February 11, 2017, at his residence. He came to Austin Peay State
University in 1968 as a psychology professor and served as the department chair for
many years.
View Dr. Blair's Obituary
Dr. Charles Nelson Boehms died February 1, 2017. Charlie went on to inspire hundreds/thousands of college students
while teaching and working in the administration of Austin Peay State University.
View Dr. Boehms's Obituary
Dr. Joyce Jarrett Hargrove passed away on January 25, 2017. Before her retirement, Dr. Hargrove was the chair
of the Department of Social Work at Austin Peay State University.
View Dr. Hargrove's Obituary
Dr. Thomas P. Dixon passed away on July 7, 2016, at Vanderbilt Medical Center. After receiving his Ph.D.
from Vanderbilt University Professor Dixon taught history at Austin Peay State University
for 45 years.
View Dr. Dixon's Obituary
Dr. Donald "Don" Dean Luck passed away June 22, 2016, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville,
TN. Don was a Professor of Education at Austin Peay State University.
View Dr. Luck's Obituary
Dr. Harvey F. Blanck died May 7, 2016. He was a retired Austin Peay State University chemistry professor.
View Dr. Blanck's Obituary
Dr. Preston J. Hubbard died February 17, 2016, at Diversacare of Smyrna. He taught history at Austin Peay State University for thirty-three
years.
View Dr. Hubbard's Obituary
Dr. Thayer Wilson Beach passed away on April 25, 2015, at her residence. Dr. Beach retired from the Department
of Languages and Literature at Austin Peay State University.
View Dr. Beach's Obituary
Dr. Ernest L. Woodward passed away on April 5, 2015, at his residence. Ernie taught mathematics at Austin
Peay State University until he retired in 1996.
View Dr. Woodward's Obituary
James Thomas Stack passed away on February, 25, 2015, at Walking Horse Meadows. He taught mathematics
at Austin Peay State University for 35 years.
View James's Obituary
Dr. Lewis Paul Hyatt, Sr., passed away on February 24, 2015, in Henrico, VA. He was Professor Emeritus at
Austin Peay State University, where he taught American History and all the social
sciences for 39 years, retiring in 1986.
View Dr. Hyatt's Obituary
Betty Joe Wallace of Big Rock, TN, passed away on Friday, April 11, 2014 at her residence. Ms. Wallace
was a professor of History at Austin Peay State University and retired in 2008.
View Betty's Obituary
Dr. Wayne E. Stamper died Tuesday, December 10, 2013, at his home. His professional career included both
teaching and administrative positions at Austin Peay State University.
View Dr. Stamper's Obituary
Dr. Melburn Ross Mayfield passed away on Friday, September 20, 2013, at Gateway Medical Center. In 1957, he
founded the Physics Department at Austin Peay State University. He also served as
the University's Vice President for Development and Field Services and Executive Director
for University Advancement.
View Dr. Mayfield's Obituary
Jose H. Feliciano passed away on March 29, 2013, at Gateway Medical Center. He was a retired plumber
at Austin Peay State University.
View Jose's Obituary
Rachel Corlew Tate died on March 12, 2013, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She retired from
Austin Peay State University after serving in several positions.
View Rachel's Obituary
Dr. Edward Eugene Irwin died January 16, 2013, at Spring Meadows Healthcare. Ed was a retired APSU Professor
of Language and Literature and Professor Emeritus.
View Dr. Irwin's Obituary
Dr. James Dawson Nixon died in Irving, Texas, on October 5, 2012. He had served APSU for twenty years, including
three as department chairman, sixteen as dean, and a shorter stint as interim vice
president for academic affairs.
View Dr. Nixon's Obituary
Dr. William Glenn Stokes of Austin, TX, died Sunday, September 16, 2012, at his home. In 1960, he took a
position as Professor and Chair of the Mathematics Department at Austin Peay State
University, where he served until his retirement in 1985. In August 2012, he was honored
at the groundbreaking of a new Mathematics Building at Austin Peay, where a classroom
in the new building will bear his name.
View Dr. Stokes's Obituary
Dr. James Xavier Corgan, Jr., of Woodstock, Trenton, KY, died on August 20, 2012, at Baptist Hospital in Nashville,
TN. n 1968, he accepted a position to teach geology and as Chairman of the Geology
Department at Austin Peay State University.
View Dr. Corgan's Obituary
Dr. Charles Clinton Holt passed away on Tuesday, April 24, 2012. He began teaching American literature at
Austin Peay in 1968, a position he held until he retired in 1993 with professor emeritus
status.
View Dr. Holt's Obituary
Dr. Roy Lee Baker passed away on April 23, 2012, at Gateway Medical Center.
View Baker's Obituary
Dr. Billy "Joe" Brown passed away on March 24, 2012, at his home in Clarksville. He retired after serving
as Chair of Health and Human Performance.
View Dr. Brown's Obituary
Erle Wendell Coppedge died on Tuesday, March 13, 2012. He was vice president of business affairs at Austin
Peay State University.
View Erle's Obituary
Dr. Lewis C. Tatham, Jr., age 87, died at his home in Edgewater, FL, on Monday, January 30, 2012. Dr. Tatham
was a professor of English and chairman of the Department of Languages and Literature
at Austin Peay State University.
View Dr. Tatham's Obituary
Lt. Loris Linda Ellsworth passed away on January 18, 2012, at her home. She retired with thirty years of service
from the APSU campus police.
View Lt. Ellsworth's Obituary
Dr. Dolores Gore died in November 2011. She was a professor in the College of Education from 1981
until her retirement in 2005.
View Dr. Gore's Obituary
Mary Emma Windham died December 5, 2010, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville. Mrs. Windham
was a retired Registered Nurse and was instrumental in the organization of the Associate's
degree program at Austin Peay in 1969.
View Mary's Obituary
Dr. Allan `Al` Silvio Williams died February 23, 2010, at Gateway Medical Center. He retired from Austin Peay State
University in August 2005 as a professor in the College of Education.
View Dr. Williams's Obituary
Dr. J F Burney died on November 3, 2009, at his home. Dr. Burney joined the faculty of the College
of Business at Austin Peay State University in 1959 and retired in 1994.
View Dr. Burney's Obituary
Dr. Harry Lynwood McLeod died Monday, February 18, 2008, at his residence. For twenty years, he was Professor
of Chemistry at Austin Peay State University. For seventeen of those years, he was
chairman of the Chemistry Department.
View Dr. McLeod's Obituary
Dr. Evelyn Nixon passed away on June 21, 2007.
Dr. Elizabeth Hendon Stokes died on Saturday, December 11, 2004, in Austin, Texas. In 1960, she joined the Austin
Peay State University faculty, where she served until her retirement in 1985 as Professor
of Psychology.
View Dr. Stokes's Obituary
Richard Edgar Gannaway passed away November 30, 2002. He retired as a professor of industrial technology
at Austin Peay State University.
View Richard's Obituary
Dr. Robert Crews died at his home on December 21, 1999. Dr. Crews moved to Austin Peay in 1981 to become Program Director of the Medical Technology program and retired seventeen years later.
Dr. Herman Leon Bibb passed away on January 18, 1998. He was a professor and chair of Industrial Arts
from 1952 to 1980 at Austin Peay State University.
View Dr. Bibb's Obituary
Leon Milton Sandifer passed away March 24, 1997. Mr. Sandifer was an associate professor of health and
physical education at the time of his retirement from Austin Peay State University
in 1983.
View Leon's Obituary