James Wattenbarger

Deceased: 5 March 2006

James Albert Wattenbarger (1930-2006), whose name is synonymous with symphonic music in the Upper Cumberland, died March 5, 2006, at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. He was 75.

James Wattenbarger

Founder of the Tech Community Symphony Orchestra and its longtime conductor, Wattenbarger was chairman of Tennessee Tech University's Department of Music from 1963 to 1982. He is credited with building a music program that is the envy of universities and colleges in Tennessee.

After earning a master's and doctorate, Wattenbarger moved to Saudi Arabia where he taught music to children of Americans working for the Arab-American Oil Company. It was in Saudi Arabia that he met Mary Blackmore, whom he married in 1959.

View a PDF file of Dr. Wattenbarger's Obituary by the Department of Music and Art at Tennessee Tech University.

Thank you to Gary Averett for sharing this information with Aramco ExPats.