Captain Fothergill, “Tom,” was born in Kentucky, on a farm at home, on January 1st, 1937. His father was James Fothergill, and his mother was Mary Jane Rosenberger Fothergill. His brother was James Lee Fothergill (US NAVY) and his sister was Nancy M. Fothergill Schiebe, both of whom preceded him in death. Thomas Allen Fothergill, of Jonesboro, Georgia, formerly of Vevay, Indiana passed to his true home-meeting many loving family members and close friends after being a persevering fighter toward recovery on May 22nd. He was 86, and he died on May 22nd, 2023, at his home on Lake Jodeco which coincided with his wishes. He and his wife Lois moved to Lake Jodeco in 1965 from Alexandria, Virginia where he flew out of Washington DC for Eastern Airlines. They moved to Georgia since he desired to be promoted to fly as a First Officer in Atlanta, Georgia at Eastern Airlines. Tom and Lois were married on June 23rd, 1962; they were married for 61 years. Tom and Lois have two daughters: Anne Marie Fothergill Webb and Elizabeth “Beth” Fothergill. The family would also like to describe his commitment to his daughter, Beth, who has Down Syndrome. He would say prayers with her before she ate and at bedtime, take her for ice cream and hold her hand. Our family always sang a prayer for Beth while we held each other’s hands before each meal. We sang and still will: “Thank You for the world so sweet, thank you for the food we eat, thank you for the birds that sing, and Thank you God for everything.” Our family believes that Beth helped us be who we are, and this situation helps the world see true love of family with a fighting faith. He flew for Eastern Airlines as a First Officer and later Captain from October 7th, 1963 to January 18th, 1991. He later was a Captain for Eva Airlines based in Taipei, Taiwan from 1993-1997, retiring at the age of 60 on January 1st, 1997. He had fond memories of many pilot friends, and he was quite at home at any small or large airport – flying any jet or plane. Mr. Fothergill served in the Army after high school. He later achieved his dream of flying jets by attending Northrop Rice Aviation Institute of Technology in California to become an Aircraft Mechanic. He attended Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona, Florida as well. He flew an Aeronca Champ, loved a Piper Tri-pacer, a Cessna 150 or 172, and flew several float planes. He started at Eastern Airlines with a DC-7B as a First Officer and ended his career flying a B-767 jet for Eva Airlines. He would always say, “I’d fly for free!” He has loved planes since he was a small child. He achieved his dream. He was known to do the occasional “Fly Over” for his wife Lois Carol Lauderbaugh Fothergill when they were younger. Thomas Fothergill rededicated his life, and he was baptized in the name of the Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit, on Sunday, the seventh of September, in the year of our Lord, 2008, at First Baptist Church of Jonesboro.
Thomas Allen Fothergill is survived by his wife, Lois Carol Lauderbaugh Fothergill; his daughters, Anne Marie Fothergill Webb and her husband, Stacy Webb and Elizabeth Fothergill; his beloved grandchildren, Rebecca Elizabeth Bain and her husband, Ewan Bain, Corporal Jacob Thomas Webb (USMC) and his wife, Erin Knowles Webb, and Michael Taylor Webb; his beautiful great-grandchildren, Asher James Webb and Issac Derek Bain; his brother, Michael Taylor Fothergill and his wife, Cathy Farr Fothergill; Tom has many nieces and nephews that he loved very much: Lt Commander James Edward Fothergill-(USCG), John Thomas Fothergill, Kathy Elsaesser, Joe Elsaesser, Kimberley Wright Beck, Pamela Wright, James Wright, Victoria Fothergill, Donna Fothergill Sisco and her husband, Jake Sisco, Petty Officer Second Class (E-5)-(USCG) – Dustin Fothergill and his wife, Mckayla Fothergill with their child, Bentley James Fothergill.
The Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, June 10th, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Ford Stewart Funeral Home, 2047 GA-138, Jonesboro, Georgia. 30236.
Later in June, a Graveside Service will be conducted in Vevay, Indiana to bring Tom home to his hometown, next to the Ohio River, at the Vevay Cemetery, 820 East Main Street, Vevay, Indiana 47043.
In lieu of flowers that are beautiful, however memorial contributions are appreciated and may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Georgia Special Olympics or Special Olympics of Indiana. Also, Tom and Lois Fothergill attended First Baptist of Jonesboro. Their Sunday School Class- “Solid Rock”- supports “ My Brother’s Keeper.” They deliver meals to those combating illness or have had a deceased loved one pass on to be with our Father in Heaven. Cards are available at the funeral home or online at www.haskellandmorrison.com. If you feel led to give flowers, that is a very loving thought for our family. Tom loved red roses.