Seymour Funeral Home Obituary
Photo by Andy De Cuzzi
Thomas D. Sutton, 82, CMSgt (USAF Retired), 251 Mann Lane, Goldsboro, NC, born in Athens, Alabama died on Tuesday, January 25, 2011 at his home.
Friends and family may pay their respects at Seymour Funeral Home in Goldsboro from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Friday. Funeral services will be held at Seymour Funeral Home Chapel at 12:00 p.m. on Saturday. Services will be followed by internment with military honors at Wayne Memorial Park.
His beloved wife, Carol McCoy Sutton of the home survives him.
Surviving children are Douglas Sutton, Dwight Sutton (Elizabeth), Sharon Marriner, Diane James (Steve), Diana Mann (Mark), all of Goldsboro, North Carolina, and James Conley (Shirley), Kempner, Texas.
Surviving grandchildren are Bo Sutton, Thomas D. Sutton II, Brantley Sutton, all of Washington, North Carolina; Jennifer James Harbaugh, Lindsey Sutton, Courtney Sutton and Tenna Carol Conley, all of Goldsboro, North Carolina.
He is survived by brothers Paul (Catherine), Carroll (Mamie), Jerry, and Charles (Georgia) all of Alabama, and numerous nephews and nieces.
Special surviving friends include Rich and Karen Forbes, Plano, Texas, Lorenzo and Denise Bandini, Gainsville, Georgia, Olympia Manning, Decatur, Georgia and Alex and Aneta Lauro of Arlington, Virginia.
His military service career was spent working on Air Defense fighter planes including the P-61, P-82, F-94 and the F-102. Duty assignments were spent at Air Force Bases in Texas, Florida, California, Washington, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Alaska, Puerto Rico and North Carolina. Overseas assignments included Korea and Japan. He arrived at the 482nd Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson AF Base in 1960 and remained until it’s deactivation in 1965. His last service year was with the 4th Tactical Fighter Wing, Seymour Johnson AFB.
After retiring from the USAF in 1966, Chief Sutton attended Wayne Community College and East Carolina University, earning degrees in Accounting Business Administration and Business Education. After graduating from East Carolina he taught in Business Department of Wayne Community College for 14 years.
In 1987, he with his wife Carol, incorporated HV Processors as an animal tissue supply business, specializing in harvesting, preparing, and shipping pig hearts to doctors for valve replacement training and pig heart valves to research, training, and manufacturing facilities all over the world. The business will continue operations by Diana Mann.
In 1993 he was chosen by fellow 482nd FIS members to head the 482nd Reunion Committee. He and wife Carol organized and hosted the reunions from 1993 until 2008.
Friends are invited to Seymour Funeral Home for scheduled services and may visit the home at 251 Mann Lane, Goldsboro, North Carolina, at other times.
Flowers are welcome or memorials may be made to The North Carolina Burn Center, Chapel Hill, NC in memory of John Michael Conley.
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MILITARY MARKER:
Sutton, Thomas D.; July 21, 1928 - Jan 25, 2011; CMSgt, US Air Force
Interred: Wayne Memorial Park, 2925 US Hwy 117 South, Dudley, NC
