Dr. Thomas D. Westmoreland Jr.

A Celebration of Life for Dr. Thomas D. Westmoreland, Jr., age 81, will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, May 21st, 2022, at First Baptist Church of Jasper, Texas, with burial to follow in the Evergreen Cemetery. Visitation will be at 10:00 a.m. at the church.

Dr. Westmoreland was called home by his Lord and Saviour on May 10, 2022, in his home. Thomas was born in a log cabin outside of Vivian, Louisiana, and grew up in Longview, Texas. After he retired, Thomas and his wife Martha have resided in Jasper since 2013.

A 1958 graduate of Judson Grove High School, he was Valedictorian and lettered in football, basketball, baseball, and track. In 1962, Thomas earned his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from NTSU in Denton, Texas, where he also received two Master of Science degrees in Chemistry and Mathematics. Then, he earned his Doctor of Philosophy in Physical & Inorganic Chemistry from LSU in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where he was honoured with the DuPont Teaching Award. He began his post-university career working on the space shuttle fission-fuel cell project as an Experimental Engineer with United Technologies in Connecticut. Thomas was recruited by Pennzoil Products Company for petroleum research at the Shreveport, Louisiana research lab, and later as an Environmental & Safety Specialist at their facility in The Woodlands, Texas. Afterwards, he served as the Occupational Health & Safety Specialist with Lexicon Genetics, Inc. At various times in his career, he taught as an adjunct Professor of Chemistry at the University of Houston and Montgomery County Community College. Thomas had a lifelong passion for the study of Christian Theology, was an avid reader and creative writer, and was a collector of historical artifacts and relics. Thomas was a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason, a Connecticut Jaycee, and a member of the American Chemical Society.

Dr. Westmoreland is survived by his wife of 56 years, Martha Beard Westmoreland of Jasper; daughter Anne Laura Westmoreland (Frederking) of Jasper; son Kyle Thomas Westmoreland and wife Laurel Anne of Conroe, Texas; brother Robert L. Westmoreland and wife Sharyn of Burleson, Texas; and three grandsons: Charles Christian Frederking (wife Nikole) of Wheaton, Illinois; Alexander Clifton Frederking of Warrenville, Illinois; and Thomas Mitchell Frederking (fiancé Lynn Gill) of Syracuse, New York.

Thomas was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Delbert Westmoreland, Sr. and Marguerite Beatrice Moore Westmoreland and brother, Donald Wayne Westmoreland.

Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of Jasper, 314 N Main St., Jasper, Texas 75951; Ligonier Ministries, 421 Ligoneer Ct., Sanford, Florida 32771; or The Gideons International, P.O. Box 1048, Jasper, Texas 75951.

Services are under the direction of Stringer & Griffin Funeral Home of Jasper.