Reza Ordoubadian, age 85, died April 11, 2017, of complications connected to Parkinson's Disease.

He was born in Tabriz, Iran, to Hakimeh Doctorzadeh and Abdul Hossein Ordoubadian. He grew up in Tehran, Iran and graduated from Alborz High School. After receiving his BA from Tehran University, he came to the United States in 1956 as a Fulbright Scholar at Duke University. Later he received his PhD and MA from Auburn University.

He taught at The Webb School from 1958 to 1962, at which time he joined the English Department faculty at MTSU and taught until his retirement in 1989. Reza edited the Southeastern Conference on Language (SECOL) Journal for many years.

Afterwards, he was a visiting professor at Umea University in Sweden for several semesters. He was also a published writer and translator of the Persian mystic poets Hafez and Abu' Said.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Hossein, and his sisters Rabiyeh Sagheb, Azam Salmassi, and Guity Behforouz.

Reza is survived by his wife, Margaret, his children and their spouses: Parri Black (Dave), Evansville, IN; Kimi Abernathy (Bill), Bell Buckle, TN; Hossein Ordoubadian (Cheenie Durham), El Granada, CA; and David Ordoubadian (Karin Soderholm), Umea, Sweden; his grandchildren: Lane, Drew, Charlie, Harris (Erin), and Inara Abernathy; Aaron (Breanna) and Ethan Black; Elliot Durham-McClellan; Bjorn, Sarah, and Susie Ordoubadian; and his great grandsons Landon, Conner, and Levi Black; his sister, Parivash Ordoubadian Molavi; one sister-in-law, Mamie Howlett Scott; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A memorial service will be Saturday at 2:00 p.m. at St. Paul's Episcopal. Polk Van Zandt and Gene Wise will officiate.

Memorials may be made to Alive Hospice (www.alivehospice.org); St Paul's Episcopal Church (stpaulsmboro.org) Murfreesboro, TN; Tennessee Refugee and Immigrant Rights Coalition (www.tnimmigrant.org) or the organization of your choice.