THOMAS HENRY PERDUE

1941 - 2015

THOMAS HENRY PERDUE, age 74, of North Carolina, passed away Wednesday, September 16, 2015, at the Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, N.C. He was born January 18, 1941, in Huntington, W.Va., to the late Henry Edward Perdue and Rita Smith Perdue. Tom was raised in Huntington and graduated from Vinson High School in 1957. A gifted athlete, Tom played baseball and football at The Ohio State University, earning All-American honors as a hard hitting outfielder in 1960. His .469 batting average that year is still a school record. Tom was co-captain of the 1961 national championship football team, as determined by the Football Writers Association of America, and was named to the Academic All-American team as a defensive end. In 1988, Tom was inducted into the Ohio State Hall of Fame in two sports – baseball and football. Tom played four seasons in baseball's minor leagues for the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Sox organizations. Married in 1962 to the former Mary Ann Tromerhauser Fleming, Tom settled into a business career in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. In 1976, the family, which by now included children Robin, Ashley and Hayes, traded in sunny Florida for a Christmas tree farm in Washington, Ga., and the restoration of a beautiful 1890's farmhouse. Tom returned to Ohio in the late 80's, taking a position as athletic director at the University of Rio Grande. Above all else, Tom was a student and teacher of the Bible. He loved the Lord with all his heart, and throughout his life, he shared that love with family and friends, colleagues and acquaintances. He leaves to remember, daughters Robin Geiger (Brian) of Herndon, Va., and Ashley Chilton (Lewis) of Charles Town, W.Va., and son Hayes Perdue (Melody) of Jacksonville, N.C.; 10 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter, to whom he will always be "Papa Tom"; sister Camilla Wassilchenko (Uri, deceased) of Wellston, Ohio, and brothers Terry Perdue (Frances, deceased) of Huntington, W.Va., Rick Perdue (Roxanne) of Wellston, Ohio and Tony Perdue (Mary Ann) of Wellston, Ohio, as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Calling hours will be Wednesday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the McWilliams Funeral Home, Wellston. A celebration of Tom's life will be held on Thursday, September 24, 2015, at 10:30 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in Wellston, Ohio, with Pastor Dave Kelly officiating. Burial will follow beside Tom's parents in the Ridgewood Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the First Baptist Church, 102 South Pennsylvania Avenue, Wellston, Ohio 45692. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the McWilliams Funeral Home, Wellston. Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.mcwilliams-funeralhome.com.