WILMINGTON — Thomas “Tommie” Lupton, 85, died peacefully after a brief illness Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018. He was born March 25, 1932, in Greenville, N.C.
Mr. Lupton is survived by his wife of 58 years, Mary Tompkins Lupton; son, Thomas Lupton Jr. of Greenville, S.C.; daughter, Whitney Lupton of Midlothian, Va.; daughter-in-law, Kristi Lupton of Duncan, S.C.; sister-in-law, Willie Lupton of Greenville, N.C.; and brother-in-law, Milton Hardison of Wilmington, N.C. He was a proud and loving grandfather to Matthew Lupton of Duncan, S.C., Caleb Lupton of Charleston, W.Va., and Olivia Lupton of Louisville, Ky.
Tommie attended East Carolina University where he received Bachelor of Arts and a Masters Degree in Mathematics. He also served three years as a B-36 pilot in the U.S. Air Force. Mr. Lupton came to Wilmington in 1958 where he began a teaching position in mathematics at Wilmington College and continued there until he retired from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington in 1995. He continued to teach part-time until 2009.
He was a humble, loving, kind and loyal man who was always willing to serve and give to others. Tommie was a dedicated member of Temple Baptist Church, a deacon and a leader in many other capacities. He was an active member of the local Gideons, served as treasurer for the Wilmington March of Dimes, and was a proud member of UNCW’s Order of Isaac Bear, where he was treasurer for many years.
The family will receive visitors from 4 to 6 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 25, at Andrews Mortuary on Market Street. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, Feb. 26, at Temple Baptist Church, 1801 Market St., officiated by Dr. Mark Gaskins and Dr. Del Parkerson, followed by interment in Oleander Memorial Gardens.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers donations be made to either the American Heart Association, the Alzheimer’s Association or Lower Cape Fear Hospice.
Share online condolences with the family at andrewsmortuary.com.
