The Life of Thomas Gordon Berry
Born: April 20, 1932, Hagerstown, Maryland
Died: June 21, 2021, Rohrersville, Maryland
Mr. Thomas G. Berry, 89, of Rohrersville, died suddenly at his home Monday, June 21, 2021. He was the husband of the late Jacquelin Howard Berry, who preceded him in death on October 19, 2018. He was granted his hope to live out his life on the farm he loved for 45 years.
Thomas Gordon Berry was a son of the late Helen Berry. Thomas attended Hagerstown High School where he is listed as graduating in auto shop. He went into the U.S Army after graduation and served in the 11th airborne as a platoon sergeant and jump master and continued as a member of the 11th and 511th Airborne Associations.
After his honorable discharge from the military with very limited math skills he chose to attend Hagerstown Junior College and study engineering. He transferred to the University of MD and completed a Bachelor’s of Science Degree in Aerospace Engineering and spent most of his career at Fairchild Hiller/Fairchild Space and Electronics where he was Director of Mechanical Launch Operations for the ATS-6 satellite and retired as Director of Mechanical Engineering in 1987. He was the holder of 7 patents on satellite mechanisms that were used on several spacecraft including Skylab.
Tom and his wife Jackie met at Hagerstown Junior College and they married in 1954. In their first decade of marriage, they moved 10 times for Tom’s work. In 1976 they bought their 70-acre farm in Rohrersville. It was a place where Jackie could have her beloved horses, and the family also kept about 70 head of beef cattle, as well as running other farming operations. Tom continued commuting to work for about another 11 years, and the family worked together on the farm on the weekends. Curtis said it was a time where he learned to fix things and how they worked, all the while soaking up a great relationship with his father.
After retirement, his interests focused on the community and specifically education. Thomas was a longtime member of Mt. Zion Lutheran Church where he served on the council, served on the cemetery committee, as president of the council, and as Parish president. He served on the Washington county School Board where he served two terms as president, was a member of the Washing County Republican Club, and served time on the Central committee.
Additionally, Mr. Berry served as a volunteer with Hospice of Washington County, and was a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge 378, Hagerstown.
Surviving is his son, Curtis and wife Kate; Grandchildren Lauren, Kristin, and Kalyn, and great-grandchildren Hailey, Ethan, Natalie, and Logan; as well as his half-brother Dennis.
