Dr. Thomas A. Will

Dr. Thomas A. Will, age 92, died peacefully at the Robin Johnson House on September 18, 2014 with his family at his bedside. He was born on May 12, 1922 in New Baltimore, Pennsylvania to the late Lawrence Anthony and Agnes Virginia Topper Will. He was one of 12 children. After graduating from high school, he attended Indiana State Teachers College. In 1942, he joined the US Army during World War II and was given the opportunity to study medicine. He graduated from Wake Forest’s Bowman Gray School of Medicine in 1948. He completed his internship at McKeesport Hospital in McKeesport, PA and his residency at Rex Hospital in Raleigh, NC. This was followed by 20 months of service in the US Air Force as a Medical Officer.

He met his sweetheart, Edna Jordan, while he was a medical student and she was a high school biology teacher. They married in 1953, and moved to Dallas, N.C. to open his medical practice. For many years, he was the only doctor in Dallas. He was a dedicated physician who always had time for his patients. He continued to make house calls until his retirement in 1988.

Dr. Will was very active in his community. For 25 years, he served as the sole physician for the Gaston Correctional Center, and continued to serve on the prison’s advisory board after retirement. He served on the Board of Trustees at Gaston College from 1967 to 1995; he was Chairman from 1988-1990. He was Gaston College’s First Trustee Emeritus. He helped strengthen the ties between the College and Gaston Correctional Center, because he realized the importance of education for everyone.

He was a member of the Gaston County Medical Society from 1953-1988, and was Past President. He was a member of Gaston County Cancer Society from 1960-2005, and was Past President. He was honored as member Emeritus. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the United Way in 1992. He was a member of Alternative Community Penalties, Inc. and served on the Board of Directors.

In 1988 the Dallas community established the Dr. Thomas A. Will Scholarship Fund, an annual scholarship awarded to a graduating senior from North Gaston High School who plans to pursue a degree in medicine or a heath care related field.

He helped establish the Dallas chapter of AARP and served as President for many years.

In April 2010, he was awarded by the Governor of North Carolina the prestigious Order of the Long Leaf Pine.

He was a devout Catholic, and was a member of St. Michael’s Catholic Church. He was the proud father of seven children, and he taught them so much by his example. He had a special love for children, and dearly loved all of his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

He touched the lives of many, and will be greatly missed.

Surviving is his loving wife of 61 years, Edna Will; daughter, Dr. Melissa Will and husband Robert Thompson; son Thomas Will, Jr.; daughter Laurie Will and husband Dave Forrest; son Joe Will and wife Dawn; son John Will and wife Debbie; son Bill Will and wife Annie; daughter Maggie Will and husband Brett Dupree; grandchildren: Jordan Trogdon and husband Hank, Jeremy Will, Meredith Will, Rebekah Will, Elyse Will, Thomas Will, Madeline Will, Joseph Will, Alec Will, Madison Clemmer, and Thomas Carson Will; great-grandchildren Molly Kate and Clara Trogdon. He is also survived by sisters Mary Theresa Keller and Rosann Webreck, brother, Bob Will and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family wishes to thank the staff at CaroMont Medical Center and The Robin Johnson House for the wonderful care given to Dr. Will. They also express their gratitude to Dr. Ranjit Weerakoon and the many others that cared for Dr. Will over the last years.

Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 pm on Sunday, September 21, 2014 at the Gaston College Myers Center. Funeral services will be held at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Gastonia on Monday, September 22 at 10:00 am. A private burial will be at Cedar Shoals Cemetery in Richburg, SC.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to the Dr. Thomas A. Will Scholarship Fund, c/o Philadelphia Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1910 Philadelphia Church Road, Dallas, NC 28034, and The Robin Johnson House, in care of Gaston Hospice, PO Box 3984, Gastonia, NC 28054, or The Life Enrichment Center of Kings Mountain, 222 Kings Mountain Blvd, Kings Mountain, NC 28086.

Online condolences may be made at: www.carothersfuneralhomedallas.com

Dallas Funeral Home is serving the Will family.