Thomas R Yeoman

BALLENTINE - Thomas R. “Tom” Yeoman, Sr. 90, passed away on Thursday, March 22, 2012 at home surrounded by his family. He was born on August 25, 1921, in Bronx, New York, the son of the late Thomas R. and Elsie L. Yeoman. He was the eldest of four siblings, Bob, Ken, and Stan. On August 16, 1947, he married his beloved wife, Phyllis, who survives. They were married for sixty-four years.

Tom graduated from Pearl River High School, Pearl River, NY in 1940 and Colgate University with a BA in Economics and Finance in 1948. He earned his MBA from New York University in 1952. In 1942, Tom enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a Storekeeper Third Class in the 42nd Construction Battalion. He served in the Aleutian Islands of Dutch Harbor, Adak, and Amchitka, Alaska. He was selected for Officers Training, was commissioned as an Ensign, and served aboard the aircraft carrier the USS San Jacinto (CVL-30) where he served as an “R” Division Officer, Assistant Damage Control Officer.

After World War II ended, Tom continued his Navy career and was reassigned to “Operation Magic Carpet,” a mission that brought thousands of U. S. troops home from the Pacific. Tom was part of Admiral Halsey’s Task Force 58 in the Southwest Pacific. He received an Honorable Discharge from the U. S. Navy on April 30, 1959.

Tom worked for Curtiss-Wright Corp., and ITT Corp. before joining IBM Corp in 1964. He retired from IBM with more than 25 years of service. Tom was an active member of Redeemer Lutheran Church in Columbia, SC where he served as a member of the church council. He served his community in other ways. Tom was an Eagle Scout and for years served as a Scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts and later as Council Commissioner. The Boy Scout Council awarded Tom with one of Scouting’s highest honors, the Silver Beaver. One of Tom’s proudest Boy Scout achievements was that his eldest son, Tom III and grandson, Ty “Tom IV” provided the Yeoman family with three consecutive generations of Eagle Scouts. Tom was a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Freemason with sixty –five years of Masonic service in Pearl River, NY and Columbia, SC. Tom was also a twenty-one year member of the Fraternal Order of Shriners with the Jamil Temple as well as a member of the Flying Fez’s both of Columbia, SC. Tom was licensed as a private pilot and served as president of the Ramapo Flying Club in Ramapo, New York. In addition, Tom trained and served as an Emergency Medical Technician for the Pearl River, NY Ambulance Corp for more than three years. He was also proud of being part of the Rockland County, NY Little League, coaching his two sons on the Cubs baseball team, with his daughter serving as the team’s bat girl.

Tom is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Stan and Martine of Antibes, France; son and daughter-in-law, Tom and Diane of Columbia, SC; son and daughter-in-law, Chuck and Katie of Chapin, SC; daughter, Stacey of Hopkinton, MA; six grandchildren, Krista, Ty, Samantha, Rob, Tucker, and Skyler; niece, Christine Yeoman Keschinger of Prosperity, SC; cousins, Alan and Nikki Davis of Irmo, SC; and their goddaughter, Paulette Hopkins of Decatur, GA. He was preceded in death by his brothers, Bob and Ken.

A Memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at Redeemer Lutheran Church, 525 St. Andrews Road, Columbia, SC. Interment will be in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA. The family will receive friends at Redeemer at 10:00 a.m. prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations may be made to Redeemer Lutheran Church or the Wounded Warrior Project, www.woundedwarriorproject.org. in memory of Thomas R. Yeoman, Sr. Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Irmo/St. Andrews Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements.