Thomas William Kern

Thomas William Kern, 92, of Durham, NC and formerly of Salisbury, NC passed away on Thursday, June 16, 2011 at Duke Hospice - Hock Family Pavilion. . Mr. Kern’s roots were planted in Rowan Co. soil for over 200 years. Tom was born on June 14, 1919 to the late John Augustus and Margaret Barger Kern. He was a graduate of Boyden High School, Class of 1937. During World War II, Tom served four years as a Chief Petty Officer in the U.S. Navy, in the 12th Battalion Supply Dept. He was in the Navy Lumber Coordinating Unit where he purchased lumber. After returning to Salisbury from naval service, he headed the 1946 Red Cross Campaign, and was chairman of the chapter in 1947. He played an active role in the industrial and civic life of Salisbury-Rowan for many years. Mr. Kern formerly owned and operated Piedmont Mill Supply, Kern Rubber Company, and Kern Hose Division. His firms were well known throughout the United States, Europe, and Japan for the quality of their products. Mr. Kern was named Industrial Man of the Year, and helped establish IMC as a charter member company. He served two terms as chairman of the Salvation Army board, was a past Director of the Chamber of Commerce, and was a member of the Salisbury Rotary Club where he was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow and previously served on its Board of Directors. Tom also served on fund-raising committees for Lenoir-Rhyne, Catawba and Livingston Colleges. In 1983, he received his Honorary Doctorate Degree for Humanitarian Services from Catawba College. He was a member of the Founder’s Society of Duke University and the James B. Duke Society. Tom was a lifetime member of St. John’s Lutheran Church until relocating to Durham in 1997. He had served on the church council, the finance, property, renovation and long range planning committees, and was the first lay-president to serve at St. John’s. In 1998, he joined Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Chapel Hill, NC, where he continued an active role in church ministries. As an avid golfer, Tom enjoyed being on the golf course until the age of 89, when just prior to retiring his clubs, he had his third hole-in-one. Mr. Kern was preceded in death by his wife, Sarah Lowry Kern. He is survived by his children: Terri Kern of Charlotte, Susan Campbell of Durham, and Julie Kern of Chapel Hill; stepchildren: Jim. Riddle of Atlanta, GA; Sally Marsh and Julia Mulvey of Greensboro, and Starr Shive and Ann Cline of Salisbury. He is also survived by fourteen grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren. Service and Visitation: A Memorial Service will be conducted at St. John's Lutheran Church at 11:00 am on Tuesday, June 21, 2011 conducted by the Rev. Rhodes Woolly, Rev. Jan Huntley and Rev. David Nelson. The family will receive friends in the church library following the Service. Burial will be private with the immediate family. Memorials may be made to St. John's Lutheran Church, 200 W. Innes St., Salisbury, NC 28144; Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 300 E. Rosemary St., Chapel Hill, NC 27514 or to the Kern Foundation Trust, 2626 Glenwood Ave, Ste. 510, Raleigh, NC 27608. Summersett Funeral Home is serving the Kern family. Online condolences may be made at www.summersettfuneralhome.com.

Thomas William Kern

June 14, 1919 - June 16, 2011