Thomas Allen Skelton

Tom was born on August 6, 1947, in Meigs County, TN. He was the son of Emma Lou and Troy Eldon Skelton. The happy days of his youth were spent on the family farm in Ten Mile, TN. Tom most loved working on the farm alongside his father and two brothers. He graduated from Meigs County High School and was proud to be the high school salutatorian, an Eagle Scout, and Vice President of the Tennessee State Future Farmers of America. He graduated from the University of Tennessee with a bachelor’s degree in Agricultural Business in 1968.

He met Darla Rose during pilot training at Reese AFB in Lubbock, TX and they married in 1970. After rising to the rank of Captain in the US Air Force, Tom had a long career in software sales in Georgia and Maryland, where he and Darla also raised their two girls. Arriving in Raleigh in 1995, Tom began investing in young start-up companies and consulting for those start-ups in interim leadership positions. Tom rarely had idle hands and spent much of his free time volunteering with his church and the local community. He was an active member of North Raleigh United Methodist Church in Raleigh, NC, and dedicated his time to Opportunity International for over 30 years. Over the past decade, he would most often be found at his lake house with his cherished grandchildren.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 51 years, Darla (Rose) Skelton; his daughter Lee Ellen Harmer and her husband Myles, of Raleigh, NC, and his daughter Jana Scislowicz and her husband Jason, also of Raleigh. He is also survived by four grandchildren: Logan and Declan Harmer and Elise and Quinn Scislowicz. He was preceded in death by his brother Charles Skelton of Toccoa, GA; sister Marie Skelton Inman of Kingston, TN; sister Elverna Skelton Reed of St. Mary’s, GA; and brother Arnold Skelton of Asheville, NC.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, September 9, at 2:00 PM at North Raleigh United Methodist Church at 8501 Honeycutt Road, Raleigh NC, 27615. The family will remain present to receive friends in the Fellowship Hall immediately following Thomas' celebration. It is requested that all attendees wear a mask at all times during all events.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to either the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina ( https://bit.ly/3yINKbI ) or Opportunity International ( https://bit.ly/38BQQUe ).