Tom’s Obituary Jesse Thomas “Tom” Bostic, Jr., age 87, passed away on Thursday, February 28, 2019 in Wilmington, NC. Tom was born on January 14, 1932 in Kinston, Lenoir County, NC, son of the late Jesse Thomas Bostic, Sr. and Minnie Eliza Quinn Bostic. When he was a teenager his family moved to Holly Ridge/Surf City, NC where he graduated from Dixon High School in 1950.
He went on to earn his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with a minor in Chemistry from Wake Forest College in 1954. While attending Wake Forest College, he was a member of the Alpha Phi Omega Fraternity. He completed post-graduate studies at UNC- Chapel Hill and NC State.
He entered the United States Army Reserves in 1956 and served two years active duty. After his military service, he became a Health Inspector with the Brunswick County Health Department. In 1960 he took a position as a Chemical Engineer with the Technical Department at Riegel Paper Company in Riegelwood, NC, which later became Federal Paper Board Company.
He was a Sr. Paper Process Engineer when he retired from Federal Paper Board Company after 36 years of service. He was an active member of Wesley United Methodist Church (UMC) in Riegelwood for almost 60 years where he served on the Finance Committee and served as Chairman of the Administrative Board. He also served on the Wilmington District for UMC and served for 8 years on the Equitable Compensation Commission for the NC Conference of UMC.
He was dedicated to serving his community by also being active in the local Jaycees, the Historical Society and served on the committee to establish the East Columbus Public Library. In addition to his community service, he enjoyed woodworking and was widely known as “Mr. Fix It”. He is survived by his wife, Vera Anne Willis Bostic of the home, whom he married on June 20, 1959 at Trinity UMC in Southport, NC; children, Elizabeth Anne Bostic Ross and husband Ronnie of Leland, NC, Thomas Alan Bostic and wife Candice of New Bern, NC, Jennifer Lynn Bostic Stewart and husband Kenny of Buies Creek, NC; grandsons, Thomas Alan “AJ” Bostic, Jr. and wife Joy of Dillon, SC, William Trent Bostic of Raleigh, NC, Logan Carter Stewart and Addison Ashley Stewart; great-grandchildren, Kayleigh Anne Bostic, Eliza Joleigh Bostic and Reid Thomas Bostic, and sister, Hyacinth Henderson and husband Johnny of Wilmington, NC.
The family will receive visitors from 4-6pm, Sunday, March 3, at Andrews Market Street Chapel and at other times at the residence of Ronnie and Elizabeth Ross: 10105 Bedrock Circle, Leland. A funeral service will be held at 2pm, Monday, March 4, at Wesley United Methodist Church in Riegelwood. Burial will follow at Oleander Memorial Gardens in Wilmington.
Pallbearers will be his grandsons and two nephews, Michael Henderson and Robert Willis. Memorial contributions may be made to Wesley United Methodist Church Building Fund, PO Box 116, Riegelwood, NC 28456 or ADR Fire and Rescue.
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