Robert Allen Proffit

Robert Allen Proffit, 67, of Knoxville and Bristol, Tennessee passed away Sunday, May 15, 2016. He was born in War, West Virginia on March 2, 1949. He attended Virginia High School in Bristol, Virginia and East Tennessee State University, where he received his Bachelors of Science. He married Dianne Stafford Hagey in 1979. They were married 34 years before his wife passed away in 2013. Their love was a special bond and they have been reunited. He was a sergeant in the United States Air Force 1971-1973. He was a Vietnam War veteran and he was proud to have served his country. He retired in 2012 from the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. He was preceded in death by wife, Dianne Stafford Hagey Proffit; father, Earl Thomas Proffit; and mother, Irene Baker Proffit. He is survived by his daughter, Nancy Hagey Proffit of Knoxville; sister, Virginia Proffit Crane of Abington, VA; sister-in-law, Patricia Hagey Connelly; brother-in-law, Joe D. Connelly; close friends, Larry and Roy Shearin, Harry S. Wright, Robbin J. Ryan, and Bobby Williams; and special niece, Sarah Elizabeth Crane. Honorary pallbearers include Darren Evan Crane, Roger Melvin Crane, Brent Edward Crane, Jeffery Thomas Crane, Joe D. Connelly, Jason Henry Connelly, David Raulet, and William Perkins. There will be a receiving of friends on Monday, May 23, 2016 from 5-7pm at Berry Funeral Home (3704 Chapman Hwy., Knoxville, TN 37920), with a Funeral Service to follow at 7pm. The interment will be on Tuesday, May 24, 2016 at 11:30am at East Tennessee Veterans Cemetery (2200 E. Gov. John Sevier Hwy. Knoxville, TN 37920). In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Veterans of Foreign Wars (406 West 24th St., Kansas City, MO 64111). Condolences may be offered at www.berryfuneralhome.com.