Battle Hargrove Klyce, Jr.

Battle Hargrove Klyce, Jr., November 2, 1916-January 3, 2004 Battle Hargrove Klyce, Jr., died on January 3, 2004, at Fairpark Healthcare Center after a long illness. He is survived by his devoted wife of 56 years, Alice Eleanor Ramsland Klyce and his children, Carolyn Klyce of Chicago, IL, and Richard Klyce of Terrebonne, OR and his wife Cathy Paxon and daughter Erika. Also surviving are his brother, William H. Klyce of Tampa, FL and sister, Mary Alice (Mrs. C. Gordon Peerman, Jr.) and brother-in-law, Dr. C. Gordon Peerman, Jr. of Nashville, TN. “Bat” was preceded in death by his brother, Erskine Watkins Klyce and sister, Marion Shelby (Mrs. Lloyd C. Smith). “Bat” was born in Miami, FL while his father’s firm was building the first causeway connecting the city of Miami to Miami Beach, but “Bat” loved his Tennessee roots after spending most of his childhood and college years in Nashville. “Bat” Klyce was an electronics engineer who achieved his undergraduate degree at Vanderbilt University’s School of Engineering and worked toward a Master’s degree at Columbia University. While a student at Vanderbilt, he participated in the exciting early days of radio by helping to strengthen the station signal of WSM so that listeners in a wider area could hear favorite programs, like the Grand Ole Opry. During World War II, he worked on radar, helping to develop the detection systems which played a significant role in the Allied victory. During a stint at Time, Inc., “Bat” researched and co-authored a professional paper on the development of an automated labeling system which greatly increased the efficiency of addressing magazines. Later in his career he worked at the prestigious Bell Laboratories. Retiring from Bell Laboratories in 1982, he moved to Maryville, where he participated in Kiwanis and was a volunteer teacher in the GED program. He enjoyed hiking in the Smokies. His family will miss him greatly. The family is grateful to the many members of the Blount County health care community who worked so hard to manage his multiple medical problems. The family also appreciates the friends and neighbors who have so generously supported us in this difficult time, including the Sheriff’s Outreach Program which played a role in safeguarding Alice during “Bat’s” long convalescence. A celebration of life will be held at 1:00 p.m. Sunday, January 11, 2004, in McCammon- Ammons-Click Chapel. Please dress casually -“Bat” would have liked it that way. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Eastern TN Chapter, 2200 Sutherland Avenue, Suite H 102, Knoxville, TN 37919 or to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, 3 Forest Street, New Canaan, CT 06840. McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home in charge 982-6812 www.mccammonammonsclick.com