Thomas Karnes

Thomas Lindas Karnes, PhD died December 11, 2010 at his home in the Cedars of Chapel Hill with his daughter by his side, just 6 short weeks after the death of his beloved wife, Virginia. Tom was born August 21, 1914 in Kenosha, Wisconsin to JH and Jennie Karnes who preceded him in death along with his sister, Olive and his son, Steve. Survivors are his daughter and son-in-law, Michele and Scott Bergeron, his daughter-in-law, Beverly Karnes and two daughters Jennifer and husband Jeremy with twin sons Tyler and Trey and Stacie and husband Clint with daughter Peyton and son Hunter. His extended family includes Michele’s step-daughters Susan with husband Brian , twin daughters Addison and Emerson and daughter Alexa, Amy with husband Brian , son Ryan and daughter Riley, and Ashley with husband Brannon.
Tom grew up in Chicago and began his love for education at DePauw University in Indiana. He later transferred to U. of Colorado-Boulder earning his BA in History. He began working for the Census Bureau in 1940 where he met Virginia. He was drafted into the Army summer of 1941. On a last minute leave he got back to D.C. and they married December 23, 1941. He was accepted into Adjutant General’s School in Maryland and was eventually based at Wendover, UT. In late summer 1944 a B-29 landed at Wendover which later changed the world - its pilot was Col. Paul Tibbets who was there to organize the B-29 bomb group which became the 509th Composite Group. Col. Tibbets was the pilot on the Enola Gay that bombed Hiroshima. Tom served as Col. Tibbets’ adjutant and built the team of 1900 men responsible for that mission.
After the war, Tom entered graduate school at Stanford, earning his PhD in Latin American history. He taught at Tulane University for 14 years until recruited by Arizona State University. He retired from the Air Force as Lt. Colonel in 1974 and retired from ASU as History Department Chairman in 1984 after 16 years. He and Virginia moved to Round Rock, TX where they thoroughly enjoyed their lives and their dear friends at FUMC-Austin. During all these years, Tom authored 5 books and countless articles. He continued his writing after they moved to Chapel Hill in 2004 and published his last book at age 95. He missed Virginia terribly after her death in late October and the family wants to thank the staff and volunteers of UNC Hospice for their loving care and support during these last 6 weeks.
On December 23, 2010 (Tom and Virginia’s 69th anniversary) their daughter and son-in-law will take Tom’s and Virginia’s remains to be buried together in a military funeral at Arlington National Cemetery. Donations can be made to UNC Hospice of Chapel Hill. Condolences may be made at www.cremationsocietync.com.