Thomas V. Heather, age 81, died at home on March 17, 2018.The son of Mary and Ernest Heather, he grew up in Naperville, Illinois. He had two sisters, Bernice and Dolores and a brother, Lloyd, each older than he and deceased. He attended Ellsworth Elementary, Naperville High School, North Central College and Evangelical Theological Seminary, all in Naperville. He liked to refer to himself as a graduate of Ellsworth because of the good, patient, formative teachers who put up with his shortcomings.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army where he was trained as a linguist, but was ironically called upon to use his basketball skills. Most of his tour of duty was in Germany where he played for the Army’s team.
After the Army he finished college and entered seminary, becoming ordained as a minister in the United Methodist Church. In 1966 he entered the Air Force as a chaplain, retiring in 1993. He married Cynthia Robertson in 1969. Together they moved many times to bases both stateside and overseas. They have two children and three grandchildren, Sean Heather, son, his wife, Celeste and their son William and Megan Woodruff, daughter, her husband Craig and their sons Oliver and Simon.
Tom and Cynthia came to Galesburg in 1993. Tom was pastor of Central Congregational Church for five years and later Cottage Hospital Chaplain for five years.
While a seminary student in the 1960s, Tom briefly participated in the Civil Rights demonstrations in Selma, Alabama. He later helped with voter registration in Mississippi.
He viewed life through his faith, considering everything through Jesus, through Christ’s view. Tom’s smile and spirit touched many people in many places.
A Celebration of a Life service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 24, 2018 at Central Congregational Church on the Square in Galesburg with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to International Rescue Committee and Doctors Without Borders. Hinchliff-Pearson-West Funeral Directors and Cremation Services is handling arrangements for the family. Online condolences may be made at www.h-p-w.com.
