David Withers Cardwell Sr., 87, of Rock Hill, S.C., died Saturday, Jan. 29, 2000, in Rock Hill.

Mr. Cardwell had lived in Oak Ridge for 50 years. From 1943 to 1945, as part of the Manhattan Project, he was the electrical department supervisor for Tennessee Eastman Corp. From 1946 to 1954, he held management positions at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, first as supervisor of the Instrument Division and eventually becoming head of the Engineering and Mechanical Division.

From 1954 to 1973, he assumed several responsibilities in nuclear research and in computer applications initiatives at ORNL. He retired in 1973 but continued to serve as a consultant in the development of computer systems. He was a registered professional engineer in Tennessee.

Mr. Cardwell was born Sept. 17, 1912, in Columbia, S.C., the son of Edward Sinton Cardwell Sr. and Josephine Withers Cardwell. He received a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering from the University of South Carolina in 1934. He had served as commander of Delta Chapter of Sigma Nu fraternity.

From 1934 to 1936, Mr. Cardwell served as Civilian Conservation Corps camp engineer in Tigerville, S.C. In 1937, he worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Soil Conservation Service in Spartanburg, S.C., and from 1938 to 1943, he was a regional hydrologist with the USDA Soil Conservation Service in Blacksburg, Va.

Mr. Cardwell received his master of science degree in agricultural engineering in 1942 from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, where he also did advanced study in electrical engineering.

In Oak Ridge, he was a charter member of the United Church, Chapel-on-the-Hill, and had served on its board of trustees. In 1960, he was selected by the Oak Ridge City Council to organize the first Electrical Examiners Board and served as its chairman for eight years.

In 1963, Mr. Cardwell was appointed by the City Council to the Human Relations Advisory Board where he subsequently served as vice chairman. He was a member of the Oak Ridge Community Band from 1944 to the early 1960s and played the trumpet. He was also a charter member of the Oak Ridge 43 Club.

Mr. Cardwell is survived by his wife of 63 years, Juanita Johnson Cardwell; his son, David Withers Cardwell Jr., of Rock Hill; his daughter, Martha Cardwell Sparrow of Starkville, Miss.; his sister, Frances Livingston Cardwell of Lexington, S.C.; and by five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

The funeral will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 1, at the United Church, Chapel on the Hill, with the Rev. R. Boyd Carter officiating.

Burial will be at Oak Ridge Memorial Park.

The family requests any memorials be in the form of donations to the United Church, 85 Kentucky Ave., Oak Ridge, TN 37830.

The family will receive friends at the church following the service Tuesday afternoon.

Greene Funeral Home in Rock Hill, S.C., handled arrangements.

[RFSS Jan 2014]