Dr. Thomas H. Eleazer

Thomas Henry Eleazer of Columbia, SC passed away peacefully at home with his family by his side on October 23, 2026. Tommy was born on April 14, 1934 in Sumter, SC to James Malcolm and Cora Westbrook Eleazer. In 1954 under the clock tower at Clemson University, Tommy met the love of his life, Ruth Jones. They married four years later and God blessed them with 68 ½ fun filled years of marriage.

Tommy graduated from Clemson University with a B.S. in Professional Sciences, then the University of Georgia with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) in 1958. His career began in small-animal private practice and then moved to Animal Disease Diagnostics for the University of NC. He served as a US Air Force Draft/Volunteer as the Base Veterinarian and did consultation work for the FDA while at Moody Air Force Base. He was next employed by the University of NC in Animal Disease Diagnostics. Yearning to return to his SC roots, he could not pass up the opportunity to work for his beloved Clemson University. There he was employed for 30 years as an Avian Pathologist. After retirement from the Clemson Experimental Station in Columbia, he continued private consultation work and kept his veterinary licensure current up to the age of 83. His consulting work had state, national and international influence, including an assignment in Kuwait to rebuild the poultry industry after the Gulf War.

Tommy was very active in civic and professional organizations. He was past president of the SC Wildlife Federation, a member of DNR Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries and was appointed to the SC Advisory Board by Governor Caroll A. Campbell, Jr. Due to his generosity of time and expertise, he was awarded the National Man of the Year Merit Award by the North American Game Bird Association in 1989 as well as the SC Order of the Palmetto in 1993. He serviced multiple SC wildlife conservation and management areas as their gamebird disease diagnostician and health manager.

Tommy was an involved member of Covenant Presbyterian Church, where he poured himself into children and youth through teaching Sunday-School and joining frequent church family camping trips. He served the entire congregation through years of deacon and elder service.

He and Ruth made their home a warm and welcoming place for their daughters’ church, school and neighborhood friends. Along with 200 others, he and Ruth helped establish Northeast Presbyterian Church, where his home was used for various church activities while the NEPC property was being acquired. He served for decades in many capacities and later became Elder Emeritus.

Tommy’s deepest joy came from his love for Jesus and his family. He enjoyed being a father to his two girls, Hannah and Jenni, and he deeply enriched their lives by being ever present and selflessly loving. His grandsons Kent and Thomas Stiles were his best buddies. He spent countless hours taking them hunting, fishing, out for lunch, and making them laugh with his stories and Pop-like demeanor. He loved spending Clemson football/baseball seasons and every Christmas with his Eleazer family in Clemson and was also a “Jones-side” family treasure. He delighted in spending time at his Edisto creek house, hosting years of biannual family BBQs, grilling his famous chicken, frying fish, and entertaining everyone with his delicious food and hilarious wit. He was an endless font of entertainment for multiple audiences with his “Tommy-style” stories of his true life events. He is survived by his wife Ruth, daughter Jenni Eleazer, daughter Hannah (Chuck) Stiles, grandsons Kent and Thomas Stiles, and numerous beloved nieces and nephews.

His life has richly influenced so very many souls with his joy, his infectious humor, his deep and abiding love, and his solid faith in Jesus Christ. Tommy Eleazer will be greatly missed!

A visitation will be held from 1:00 until 2:00 pm on Saturday, November 7, 2026 at Northeast Presbyterian Church, 601 Polo Road, Columbia, SC 29223, with a service to follow at 2:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Northeast Presbyterian Church Mission Fund, 601 Polo Road, Columbia, SC 29223 and The SC Wildlife Federation, 1519 Richland Street, Columbia, SC 2920.