Thomas Pendleton PeytonIII

Thomas Pendleton Peyton III, formerly of Charleston, W.V., andHilton Head, S.C., passed away on Feb. 10, 2010, at King’sDaughters Medical Center in Brookhaven.

Mr. Peyton was born on June 6, 1924, in Charlottesville, Va., andattended Christ Church Episcopal School in Urbana, Va. Upongraduation, he attended the University of Virginia School ofEngineering. While at UVA, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps and wasplaced in the B-12 program. He completed his basic training atParris Island, S.C., and then attended Officer Candidate School inQuantico, Va., where he achieved the rank of lieutenant and choseto remain in the Reserves. Mr. Peyton continued his education atDuke University and Purdue University, graduating in 1946 with abachelor of science in mechanical engineering.

After World War II, Mr. Peyton worked in the export business inWashington, D.C., Cuba and South America. His desire to work in theUnited States resulted in his being hired by Standard Oil ofCalifornia. During this time, he was sent to Brookhaven, where hemet and married his adored wife, Joan Alloway Johnson on Sept. 16,1950. Mr. Peyton was called back to military service shortlythereafter and was sent to serve in Korea, from where he returnedhighly decorated.

After his return to the States, Mr. and Mrs. Peyton and theirfirstborn daughter, Caroline, moved to Charleston, W.V., where Mr.Peyton worked for Columbia Gas Transmission Company. Two moredaughters were born to the Peytons, Alice M. and Suzette, as wellas twin sons, Tommy and Jere.

Upon his retirement from Columbia Gas in 1987, the Peytons moved toHilton Head, S.C., where they lived until their final move toBrookhaven.

Mr. Peyton was well known throughout his life as an avid birdhunter, fisherman, gardener and golfer, but the majority of histime and energy was devoted to his immediate and extendedfamily.

Mr. Peyton was preceded in death by his son Jere; his parentsThomas P. Peyton Jr. and Elizabeth Cooke Peyton; and a sister, JeanPeyton Seeley.

He is survived by his widow, Joan Johnson Peyton; his daughters,Caroline Peyton and Suzette Peyton (Gus Alden), of Brentwood,Tenn., Alice Sherwood (Rob), of St. Louis, Mo.; and his son, ThomasPendleton Peyton IV, of Charleston, W.V. Also surviving him aregrandchildren, Caitlyn and Jamie Harkin, Peyton, Adelyn and PaigeSherwood, Sam and Lucia Cotten, and a brother, Charles Cooke Peyton(Peggy), of Pensacola, Fla. He will be missed by many livingrelatives and friends.

A memorial service will be held at the Episcopal Church of theRedeemer, Brookhaven, where the Peytons are members, at 4 p.m. onSaturday, Feb. 13, 2010. Riverwood Family Funeral Service is incharge of arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Mississippi Schoolof the Arts in Brookhaven, or the National WWII Veterans Memorial,c/o National Park Foundation, 1201 Eye St. NW, Suite 550B,Washington, D.C., 20005.

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