Thomas Henry Moore Jr.

Bear Creek-Thomas Henry Moore, Jr., 83, passed away on Saturday, March 11, 2023 at ECU Health in Greenville. He was born December 17, 1939 in Richmond, Virginia the only son of the late Thomas Henry and Anna Janice Warren Moore.
A Graveside service will be held Monday, March 20, 2023, at 12:00 noon, at Coastal Carolina State Veterans Cemetery, 110 Montford Point Rd., Jacksonville, NC 28540 with Rev. Steve Johnson officiating. A Celebration of Life service will be planned at a later date.
Tom graduated from Mineral Springs High School in Winston-Salem, NC in 1958 when he was recognized by the Thom McAn award as Forsyth County's most valuable football player. During a career in the USMC he served two tours in Vietnam. Stationed in Hawaii with 2nd Battalion 4th Regiment, he was one of the first sent to Vietnam in 1965 and part of the first regimental -sized battle for American forces since the Korean War: Operation Starlight. His second tour 1968-69, he led the platoon providing security for the CO of the 1st Marine Division. At Camp Lejeune 1977-79 he was Company Gunny for H&S 1st BN 2nd Marine Division and Acting First Sgt under Jim Battaglini (later Maj Gen), where he was presented with a plaque declaring him the best H&S Co Gunny in the 1st Marine Division. He was named Recruiter of the Year in the St. Louis region and represented the USMC in All Armed Forces Racquetball. He loved music so his favorite duty station was Treasure Island, San Francisco in 1968's Summer of Love where he served the Armed Forces Police and worked at all the big-name concerts of that era. After retiring, he was such a good customer of Padgett Toyota that Mr. Padgett offered him a job. That resulted in a 32-year career in which he became a legend, and the dealership had been bought by Johnny Stevenson. He was rewarded with life-long friendships with customers and staff, as well as numerous trips to Southeastern Toyota PROS banquets, where he enjoyed treats such as cruising on Mr. Moran's yacht. In his declining health he enjoyed the help of his wonderful Bear Creek neighbors and the view of the water and the ospreys.
His last helicopter ride was from Naval Regional Medical Center, which looked after him well to their fullest extent possible, to ECU, where his life had been saved once before. A warrior to the end, he fought back many times through years of multiple illnesses, many Agent Orange related, but succumbed to the total toll.
He is survived by his wife and high-school sweetheart, Dr. Brenda Johnson of the home; and a sister, Deborah Moore of Green Acres, FL.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Museum of the Marine at museumofthemarine.org.