Thomas "Tom" Edward Neighbors

Mr. Thomas “Tom” Edward Neighbors, 81, of Clemmons, passed away peacefully on February 22, 2024, surrounded by family after a valiant fight against cancer.  Tom was born in St. Augustine, Florida on December 22, 1942, to Roy Llewelyn Neighbors and Lillian Kathryn Fant Neighbors.  He graduated from St. Augustine High School in 1960 and entered the United States Air Force in the Strategic Command Unit, stationed in Omaha, Nebraska.  

Tom married Pamela Jean Beal on May 3, 1968, after meeting on Vilano Beach one sunny afternoon.   Their first date included riding around St. Augustine looking at recent storm damage from Hurricane Dora and ended with lunch and Pam picking up the bill!

After four years in the military, Tom transitioned to civilian work at Fairchild Enterprises in the Information Technology (IT) group.  Eventually his job would take him and his immediate family to Winston-Salem in 1979.  Tom and his family called Winston-Salem and Clemmons home until his death. Tom worked for Fairchild for over 42 years as it transitioned to Jepson Burns Aerospace and finally BE Aerospace.  He loved his work and took pride in being the first one there and the last to leave!

Tom had numerous hobbies away from the office.  He enjoyed playing cards, especially Hearts and Up & Down, loved antique cars, fishing/floundering with his best buddy Gene Smith, and shelling in Sanibel Island, Florida.  His favorite hobby by far was sitting in his recliner with his beloved granddaughter, Grier, and watching Gunsmoke.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law, Ted Beal.  In addition to his wife, Tom is survived by his son, Jeff Neighbors of Greensboro; daughter, Ashley Neighbors Esleeck (Doug) of Winston-Salem; granddaughter, Lauren “Grier” Esleeck; brothers, John Neighbors (Marsha) of St. Augustine, FL and Lowell Neighbors (Carolyn) of Orlando, FL; sisters-in-law, Judie Beal Smith (Gene) and Judy Foxworth, all of St. Augustine, FL; numerous other loving relatives and the family dog, Buttercup.  Tom was known to his family and friends by many nicknames, “Tommy, Big Tom, and Pawpaw.”  He was beloved by many and will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

A funeral service will be held at 2:00pm on Friday, March 1, 2024, at Hayworth-Miller Lewisville Chapel with Pastor Charles Fernandez officiating.  The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.  A committal service will be held at 1:00pm on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Salisbury National Cemetery.  

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in memory of Tom to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, PO Box 22324, New York, NY 10087 https://www.lls.org/ or International Myeloma Foundation, 4400 Coldwater Canyon, Ste 300, Studio City, CA 91604 https://www.myeloma.org/ to help advance the life-saving research and treatments that gave Tom 20 more years with his beloved family and friends!