Eugene Thomas “Gene” Sears, 72, of Thomasville died Sunday, October 21, 2018 at Novant Forsyth Medical Center, Winston-Salem. He was born October 10, 1946 in Guilford County to the late Thomas Kent and Julia Hayes Sears. He was educated in Thomasville City schools; AAS in Civil Engineering from Guilford Technical Community College; Computer Science and Business Administration, High Point University.
A veteran of the US Navy during the Vietnam War 1963 to 1969, he served aboard the aircraft carrier USS Intrepid. On October 14, 1969, Gene married Charlotte Daye Brandon of Spencer and they settled into life in Thomasville. He served the community arts for many years through his work in the Chair City Players, primarily in his set design and construction, although with the occasional onstage role. Gene has been a member of Thomasville’s Jaycees, Civitan Club, and Toastmasters Club. A Boy Scout himself, he also lead the Grace Lutheran Boy Scout troop in the early 1970s. He was a member of Memorial United Methodist Church. He retired from AMP Inc./Tyco International where he had supported the company’s computer system in Systems Analysis and Systems Design across locations in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Florida. Prior to his work with AMP, he moved from Audio-Visual Technician to Instructor in the Machining curriculum at Guilford Technical Community College. He was also employed in the surveying and construction department of the North Carolina Department of Transportation and with Thomasville Furniture Industries.
Gene is survived by his wife, Charlotte, son Kent Brandon Sears (Lindsay) of Greensboro, three grandsons, Ben, Zachariah, and Allen; and one granddaughter, Holden; brother-in-law Hal N. Brandon (Peggy) of Spencer; sister-in-law Mary B. Campbell (Stanley) of Charlotte; beloved nieces and nephews; and dear cousins.
The Sears family will receive friends and family on Saturday, October 27, 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. in the Christian Enrichment Center of Memorial United Methodist Church, 101 Randolph Street, Thomasville, NC. Graveside service will he held with military honors at the National Cemetery in Salisbury, NC at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 30, the Rev. Peggy Finch, officiating.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations may be directed toward Parkinson’s Disease research at Donation Processing, The Michael J. Fox Foundation, PO Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014. Or donations to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum may be mailed to Institutional Advancement Department, One Intrepid Square, W 46th St & 12th Ave, New York, NY 10036.
Online condolences for Eugene can be made at www.thomasvillefh.com. Thomasville Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Eugene Thomas Sears.
