Wayne Varon McConnell

Wayne V. McConnell, son of Robert F., Jr. and Janie Broadwater McConnell, age 93, celebrated life from October 19, 1920- August 24, 2014. He was born in Gate City, Virginia, and he received his public school education in Gate City, as well as at Dobyns-Bennett High School in Kingsport. Wayne was also a graduate of the University of Kentucky, with a B.S. degree and an M.S. degree in Chemistry. Before coming to Kingsport, he worked as a research chemist in the petroleum industry for Texaco (as part of the war effort during World War II), and also for the newly formed penicillin antibiotic industry at Schenley Industries. He completed his career by working for 30 years as a research chemist for Kingsport's Tennessee Eastman Company, where he was awarded 24 patents. Among his patents are antioxidants for cooking oil, hard plastics used in car's steering wheels, soft plastics used in Tupperware ®, and the green plastic used in 2-liters (such as Mountain Dew ® ). Wayne's greatest gift of community service was as a member of Gideons International for over 30 yearsa€"distributing Scriptures to local hotels, hospitals, local schools, and surrounding colleges. He also served as a lay speaker in area churches. Most of all, he will be remembered as a loving husband/father/grandfather/great-grandfather.

Wayne was a member of First Baptist Church of Kingsport. He served there as a Sunday school teacher, deacon, and in the music ministry as a member of the choir and orchestra.

Surviving are Wayne's children: Carol Freas & Joyce Underwood, 6 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren). His brother Richard L. McConnell and wife Carolyn still reside in Kingsport.

A family graveside service will be conducted at Oak Hill Memorial Park on Saturday. This will be followed by a memorial service at 11:00 a.m. at Kingsport's First Baptist Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Gideons International to purchase Bibles. (Gideons, Int., Kingsport East Camp, P.O. Box 3217, Kingsport, TN 37664.)

Cemetery Details