Tom J. Whitehead, 78, of Peachtree City, Ga. passed away Dec. 17, 2014 following a brief and courageous battle with cancer. He was born and raised in Albertville, Ala. and was a U.S. Army veteran.
He was an air traffic controller and retired from the FAA in Atlanta, Ga. Following his retirement he traveled extensively throughout the world in various positions with aircraft parts companies, supervising major commercial aircraft maintenance projects, and as a volunteer with intercountry adoption agencies.
He loved all things aviation and for many years he built and flew model airplanes. In recent years he was an avid woodworker.
Tom is survived by Margaret, his wife of 48 years; one son, David Whitehead (Mollie) of Birmingham, Ala.; daughters Terri Vannatter (Larry), of Birmingham, Ala., Kathryn Oliver (Harold) of Trussville, Ala., Kimberly Brandt-Nielsen (Jorgen) of Peachtree City, Ga. and Juliane Santiago (Marc) of Fletcher, N.C.; 4 grandchildren; 2 great grandchildren; and a sister, Ann Jacobs of Newnan, Ga.
A memorial service will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Civil Air Patrol at either: the Asheville Composite Squadron, 120 Wright Brothers Way, Fletcher, N.C. 28732 or the Peachtree City Composite Squadron, c/o Peachtree City United Methodist Church, 225 Robinson Road, Peachtree City, Ga. 30269. Arrangements made under the direction of Carmichael-Hemperley Funeral Home in Peachtree City, GA.
