Thomas A. Harper, Jr., 90, of Ocilla, Georgia died Monday, April 21, 2014, at Irwin County Hospital in Ocilla.
Funeral services will be held 11 A.M., Thursday, April 24, 2014, at Arp Baptist Church with the Rev. Earl Perry officiating. His grandson, Adon Clark, will give the eulogy. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6-8 Wednesday evening at the funeral home in Ocilla.
Mr. Harper was born December 12, 1923, in Ocilla, to the late Thomas Alfred & Fannie Sutton Harper. He was a graduate of Ocilla High School. He served his country honorably in the Merchant Marines as well as the United States Army. He graduated from the Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in 1946 and began his aviation career with Southern Airways in Bainbridge. He worked with the former Thunderbird Aviation, which he purchased and named Harper Aircraft. In 1970, Mr. Harper returned to Ocilla and together with Dr. Steve McIntyre and Ethridge Paulk started Colony Flying Service, which developed into a full charter service and flight school. He retired from Delphi and was a member of Arp Baptist Church. He was a 50-year member of Ocilla Lodge #134 F.&A.M. and the Order of the Eastern Star.
He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law: Annita Sue H. & C.A. “Pete” Clark of Irwin County; son and daughter-in-law: William Thomas “Tommy” & Melinda Harper of Lax; six grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren; and two sisters: Thelma Ruth H. Boykin of Ocilla and Sally H. Raley of Augusta. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife: Ruthann Mixon Harper; and two sisters: Frances Rawlins and Doris Griner.