Cornelius Quincy Cobb

Cornelius Quincy Cobb, age 71, passed peacefully on December 23, 2014 with his devoted family at his side. He is survived by his wife of fifty-two years, LaVerne, daughter Andrea Mouring and husband Lee of Oak Ridge, TN, son Aaron Cobb and wife Franziska of The Woodlands, TX; grandchildren Alex Lynn and husband Bryan of Oak Ridge, Isaac Mouring and Jacob Mouring of Oak Ridge, Caitlyn Cobb and Kari Cobb of The Woodlands, TX; and great-grandson David Lynn of Oak Ridge. He also leaves brother-in-law George Burkhart and wife Della of Lenoir City, TN, sisters-in-law Geneva White and husband William of Buford, GA and Janet Biery and husband Jerry of Cookeville, TN; and nephews and nieces Eric White, Nick Biery, Sarah Biery, Christina Burkhart, Stephanie Bromley, Paul Gregory, Christian Gregory, and Mary Gregory.

The only child of Billy and Kathryne Cobb, Quincy was born in Kentucky and came to Oak Ridge, TN as an infant in 1943 when his father joined the Manhattan Project. He attended elementary school in Oak Ridge and graduated from Clinton High in 1961. A National Science Foundation summer scholar in 1960, he received the Navy Award at the 1961 Southern Appalachian Science Fair. Quincy was a member of the University of Tennessee Pride of the Southland Band and earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from UT in 1966. A Registered Engineer, he was a member of IEEE.

Quincy began his engineering career at Magnavox first working in the manufacture of color televisions in Greeneville, TN and then on design and production of color television cameras in Morristown, TN. From the mid-1970s, Quincy managed design and construction of electrical systems on offshore drilling vessels for several Houston, TX companies including Western Oceanics, Zapata, Areathusa, and Diamond, traveling to the world's offshore oil production and ship building areas on assignments. In the late 1990s, he was a founding principal of Exmar Offshore Company of Texas and continued consulting for Exmar after retirement. On learning of his passing, a colleague from Zapata days wrote, "Quincy's measured southern demeanor masked precise and calculating thought. I valued his friendship, his counsel and appreciated the respectful manner with which he dealt with others -- a rare quality in this Cowboy business. Quincy's passing means an irreplaceable loss for the offshore industry and a personal loss for his associates."

Since retirement, Quincy resided in Houston and at the Clinton, TN lakeside home his parents built in the mid-1950s. A private memorial service will be held later at his Clinton home. In lieu of flowers, friends are encouraged to donate to the charity of their choice. Holley Gamble Funeral Home in Clinton is in charge of all arrangements. holleygamblefh.com