Emmett Ephriam Edenfield, 96, of Tullahoma passed away on [May 13, 2026 in Ooltewah, Tennessee. He was born on Aug. 8, 1929, in Miami, Florida, to the late Emmett and Ella Edenfield. He was married to the late Jean Edenfield for 64 years.

He graduated from high school in Thomaston, Georgia. From an early age, he developed an interest in aviation and earned his pilot’s license at the age of 16. He attended the University of West Georgia for one year before transferring to the Georgia Institute of Technology. His undergraduate studies were interrupted by his service in the United States Army during the Korean War era.

He graduated from Georgia Tech in 1954 with a degree in aeronautical engineering and later earned his master’s degree from the University of Tennessee in 1967. He was a lifelong follower of sports, especially Georgia Tech athletics, which remained a strong connection throughout his life.

Following graduation, he began his career at the Ordnance Aerophysics Laboratory in Daingerfield, Texas, as a design and test engineer on one of the world’s largest supersonic wind tunnels at the time.

While working in Daingerfield, he met his wife and lifelong partner, Jean, and they were married in 1954. After the aerodynamics division closed in 1957, he accepted a position with Convair, a Division of General Dynamics in Fort Worth, Texas. There, he worked in the performance division and contributed to the Kingfish project, a proposed successor to the U-2 spy plane, as well as the NB-36, an experimental nuclear-powered aircraft.

In 1959, he took a position at the Arnold Engineering Development Center in Tullahoma, Tennessee, where he remained until his retirement in 1995. During his tenure, he worked in the von Kármán Gas Dynamics Facility and played a key role in the design of one of the early “Hotshot” wind tunnels, used to test supersonic and hypersonic vehicles.

After retiring, he developed a strong interest in investing, which became an engaging and rewarding pursuit in his later years.

He and his wife shared a deep compassion for children and were supporters of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, faithfully contributing to its mission over the years.

He is survived by his sons, Mark Edenfield and his wife Toni of Johnson City, Tennessee; Gary Edenfield and his wife Ana of Kenner, Louisiana; and Peter Edenfield and his wife Susan of Chattanooga, Tennessee. He is also survived by his grandson, Nathaniel (Nadine) Edenfield of Palm Beach Gardens, Florida; two great-grandchildren, Ellie and Naomi; and his sisters, Joyce Testa and Lucy Bowen. He also warmly embraced Susan’s grandchildren, Porter and Claire, as his own.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 55 years, Jean, and his brothers, Charles and Richard.

Graveside services will be held privately for the family at the Chattanooga National Cemetery.

Tullahoma News – May 20, 2026