Thomas H. Fearrington, Sr.

Thomas H. Fearrington, 100, of Columbia, SC, passed away on Monday, June 19, 2023. He was born on April 18, 1923, in Greenville, Mississippi. Tom was the son of the late Thomas Bell Fearrington and Margaret Hallman Fearrington. He spent most of his childhood years in Asheville and Valdese, North Carolina. In 1942, he entered the school of textiles at N.C. State University where he studied until he volunteered for the United States Army in 1943. During World War II, he was assigned to the 327 Glider Infantry Division with the 101st Airborne. He took part in two campaigns, one of which was Market Garden, Liberation of Holland, and the Battle of Bastogne. Tom served for 3 years and received 2 campaign stars while his regiment received the Presidential Unit Citation. He was the past president of the Carolina Chapter of the 101st Airborne Division Association. After WWII, Tom continued his education at N.C. State on the G.I. Bill where he graduated in 1948 with a B.S degree in Textiles. While at N.C. State, he was a charter member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon social fraternity in 1947. Following graduation, he went to work for the U.S. Rubber Company, later named UNIROYAL, Inc. There he spent 40 years serving plants in 5 states. He became a Registered Professional Industrial Engineers in 1970 and was a member of the American Institute of Industrial Engineers. His last assignment was the UNIROYAL plant in Winnsboro, SC, where he retired in 1985. While working in Hogansville, GA, Tom worshipped at Ebenezer Presbyterian Church, where he served as a Sunday School teacher, Sunday School Superintendent, and Deacon. He was also secretary for the local Lions Club. Mr. Fearrington was a charter member of St. Andrews Presbyterian Church and a former Trustee. Mr. Fearrington is survived by his son, Thomas H. Fearrington, Jr., of Newberry. He was preceded in death by his wife, Doris Boulware Fearrington, and his sister, Margaret E. Baumann. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 24, 2023, at 11 a.m., in the Temples-Halloran Funeral Home Chapel, 5400 Bush River Road, Columbia, SC, 29212. The Reverend Mark Rattray will officiate. Burial will follow in Bush River Memorial Gardens with Military Honors. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Tunnels to Towers Foundation (2361 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, New York 10306 or https://t2t.org/donate/). The family would like to thank Hope, Love & Compassionate Care and Lutheran Hospice for all their care. In addition, a special word of appreciation to Ruthie and Bo Bowman for their unwavering care in addition to running Tom to his many doctors’ appointments.