Hubert Madison Styles, 96, passed away peacefully on October 22, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee. He was born on July 4, 1930, in Ducktown, Polk County, Tennessee, to Mary Lee Pack Styles and Madison “Mat” Theodore Styles.
As a boy, Hubert enjoyed hunting, fishing, and working the soda fountain at the local drugstore. He attended Ducktown High School during his freshman and sophomore years before his family moved to Oak Ridge, Tennessee, to support the war effort. He graduated from Oak Ridge High School in 1949.
Hubert served during the Korean War with the 303rd Comm Recon Company. As a radio specialist assigned to monitor enemy communications, he supported several U.S. Army commands, including the 2nd, 7th, and 45th Infantry Divisions. In recognition of his service, he received the Korean Service Medal with two Bronze Service Stars, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Meritorious Unit Commendation, and the Good Conduct Medal.
Following his three years of service, Hubert was honorably discharged and used the GI Bill to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from the University of Tennessee. He began his professional career with Florida Power & Light, followed by a brief position with the Glenn L. Martin Company, before returning to East Tennessee. He then worked for the Tennessee Valley Authority for the remainder of his career.
A longtime member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Hubert designed high-voltage power systems that provided electricity to millions of people throughout the Tennessee Valley. After retiring from TVA, he continued contract engineering work for Arizona Power & Light, the Department of Defense, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Hubert was a lifelong member of Mine City Baptist Church in Ducktown and a devoted member of Colonial Heights United Methodist Church in Knoxville for more than 60 years. He embodied his Christian values through weekly visits with relatives in senior living and nursing home facilities throughout East Tennessee. In addition to offering comfort and support to family members, he found great joy helping residents who had no local family, eagerly assisting them with personal chores and everyday needs.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 69 years, Elizabeth Anne (Radcliffe) Styles; his sisters, Medley Styles, Beatrice Styles, and Marie (Humphrey) Styles; and his brothers, Windom Styles, Wilfred Styles, and Kenton Styles.
He is survived by his daughters, Mary “Lisa” Styles and Amy Styles; his son, Richard Styles, and daughter-in-law, Renée (Vereecke) Styles; his grandson, Brent Styles, and granddaughter-in-law, Erin (Owens) Styles; and his grandson, Alexander Styles.
The family will receive friends from 5:00p.m. to 7:00p.m. on Thursday, November 5, 2026, followed by a service at 7:00 p.m. at Berry Funeral Home, 3704 Chapman Highway, Knoxville, Tennessee.
Burial will take place at 10:00a.m. on Friday, November 6, 2026, at East Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery with full military honors.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Colonial Heights United Methodist Church Men’s Club, 6321 Chapman Highway, Knoxville, TN 37920, Friends of the Smokies, P.O. Box 1660, Kodak, TN 37764, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 107 Park Headquarters Rd., Gatlinburg, TN 37738, or a charity of the donor’s choice. Online condolences and fond memories may be shared with the Styles family at www.berryfuneralhome.com.
