Thomas Burbank Grainger

Thomas Burbank Grainger, 94, died April 7, 2006.
He was born in Wilmington, NC, August 4, 1911, the son of the late Charles Steadman and Jean Cameron Grainger.
He graduated from New Hanover High School and the Virginia Military Institute, where he played football and basketball and served on the Honor Guard. Following his graduation he was employed as a chemist by Ethyl Dow Chemical Co. in Wilmington, NC andFreeport, TX.At the outbreak of World War II, he was called in the armed services and assigned to the Fifth Armored Division at Ft. Knox, KY. Subsequently he served with the rank of Lt. Col. in the European Theater of Operations on General Eisenhower's staff. After the war, Mr. Grainger and family moved to Tarboro, NC where he was Executive Vice President of WS Clark & Sons,Inc. While in Tarboro, he was involved in many civic activities.
He served on the board of BB&T, W.S. Clark & Sons, Inc., and Woodruff Distributing Co.; as president of Hilma Country Club and the Tarboro Chamber of Commerce; and as chairman ofthe Tarboro School Board and the Tarboro Planning Commission.
He was active in the Calvary Episcopal Church, serving many terms on the vestry and was both senior and junior warden. He was a member of the Edgecombe-Nash Mental Health Advisory Committee, the American Red Cross, and United Way. He was on the founding boards for both Edgecombe Technical Institute and Tarboro Academy. He retired in 1979 and returned to Wilmington in 1986.
He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Alice James Grainger; two daughters, Jean Cameron Grainger of New York City and Janet Grainger Corcoran and husband, Michael of New Bern; three grandchildren, Nancy Corcoran Thuringer and husband, Jason of New Bern, Mary Duffy Corcoran Keeter and husband, Shelly ofGreenville, Alice Corcoran Culpepper and husband, Kyle of Wilmington; two great-grandchildren, Zachary Thuringer and ThomasKeeter.
The funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Monday, April 10, 2006 at St. James Episcopal Church with the Rev. Ronald G. Abrams officiating.
Interment will follow in Oakdale Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Louise Wells Cameron Art Museum Garden Fund, 3201 S. 17th St., Wilmington, NC 28412 or to St. James Episcopal Church, 25 S. Third St., Wilmington, NC, 28401.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.andrewsmortuary.com
A Market St. Chapel Service