Dennis W. Vroom
Dennis W. Vroom died on January 16, 2025.
He was born on Aug. 17,1930, in Lakeland, Florida. His parents were Quinby Vroom and Dorothy Bush Vroom. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Mary McGill Vroom, of Oak Ridge, Tn. They met while he was a student at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
His first job was delivering newspapers for the Lakeland Ledger which he did while attending high school. He graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering. He served in the U.S. Army with time spent in Korea and graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. He worked at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, Tn., then went to Martin Marietta Corporation in Orlando, Fl., before coming to Combustion Engineering in Chattanooga. He was a longtime member of the Hixson United Methodist Church and the Gooden Sunday School Class.
Following retirement he volunteered at the Tennessee Aquarium as a diver and in both the husbandry and horticultural departments and served on the board of directors of his homeowner’s association. He enjoyed playing bridge and hiking and camping and his association with the Boy Scouts of America. He particularly enjoyed spending time at the beach.
In addition to his wife Mary, he is survived by two sons, Dennis Q. Vroom (Donna) of Westerville, Ohio, and James E. Vroom (Kim) of Soddy Daisy, Tennessee, grandchildren Denny and Carly, and a brother Dr. Fred Q. Vroom (Peggy) of Washington, D.C., brother-in-law Johnny Brooks of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and sister-in-law Jeanne Marshburn (Charles) of Columbia, Kentucky, and several nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be held at Hamilton Funeral Home on Thursday, Jan. 23, from 2 p.m. until funeral service time at 3 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Fuel for Schools Program care of the Hixson United Methodist Church, 5301 Old Hixson Pike, Hixson, Tn. 37343.
Arrangements are entrusted to Hamilton Funeral Home and Cremation Service, 4506 Hixson Pike, Hixson, Tn. 37343, 423 531-3975.
For condolences, please visit https://www.hamiltonfuneraloptions.com/obituary/dennis-vroom