Thomas Bailey Harper

Major Thomas Bailey Harper, Jr., USAF (Retired), 90, of Mount Pleasant, SC, entered into eternal rest Saturday, November 2, 2013. His memorial service will be held in two weeks on Saturday, November 16, 2013 at First United Methodist Church, Isle of Palms at 11:00 am. Inurnment with full military honors will immediately follow at Mount Pleasant Memorial Gardens on Mathis Ferry Road. Arrangements by J. HENRY STUHR, INC., MOUNT PLEASANT CHAPEL.

Tom was born November 5, 1922 in Kingstree, SC, a son of Dr. Thomas Bailey Harper,Sr, and Lucille Conlon Harper, Tom spent most of his childhood in St. Stephens, SC. An avid hunter and fisherman, Tom spent countless hours in the woods, creeks and rivers throughout Berkeley County and days recounting the adventures. He attended USC in 1939 and 1940, then transferred to Newberry College in late 1940 on full scholarship in music. In early 1942, he volunteered to attend the US Army Air Force Cadet Training. He transitioned into the B-24 Heavy Bomber program as Aircraft Commander. He was subsequently stationed in New Guinea and the Philippines as a B-24 pilot. Following the war, he was a flight instructor in multi-engine flight training and moonlighted as a local musician playing saxophone and clarinet. Several of his missions included the Korean War and the Berlin Airlift. He was stationed at Shaw AFB as Chief of Aircraft Maintenance for F101 Voodoos and subsequently F4 Phantoms. Planes from his squadron took many of the photos over Cuba which contributed to the Cuban missile crisis and he personally presented the photos to the Pentagon. He amassed over 19,000 flying hours in his career. Upon retirement from the Air Force, he was actively involved in the local music community as an in-demand musician. He was well known and loved by his fellow musicians. The highlight of his musical career was playing the clarinet with Glenn Miller during World War II and with Bob Hope after the war.

Tom was predeceased in death by his beloved wife of 65 years, Alma Louise Jones Harper and his brother John C. Harper. He is survived by his three children; Dr. Thomas B. Harper III (Joanna), Dr. Frank E. Harper (Lynnie) and Lieutenant Commander Sharon K. Harper, USN (Retired); Six grandchildren,Sarah Dargan Harper Diaz (Ed), Daniel C. Harper, Bailey Louise Harper , Anna Mathewes and Thomas Mathewes (Haley), and one great-grandchild, Rosa Louise Diaz and his beloved "buddy" Barley. A special thank you to Martha and Leonard Manigault for the love and support given to the entire family.


In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church Choir, P.O. Box 807, Isle of Palms, SC 29451