Thomas Daniel Harper, age 94, formerly of Alabaster, passed away March 18, 2010, at Brookdale in Huntsville. Mr. Harper was a World War II and Korean War Veteran; he served in both the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets. After 20 years of service he retired to Alabaster and worked as a pipefitter with Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 91 in Birmingham.
He was born in Siluria, and was the last survivor of a family of twelve children. He drove the school bus, a wagon plus two mules, for Thompson School where he played football and was the senior class president in the 30’s. He sent two daughters through the University of Montevallo and helped his two grandchildren attend the University of Texas. He was fisherman and a hunter of quail. He spent many happy hours doing what needed to be done at the Alabaster Public Library where his wife, Gladys Harper, had been a long time board member. Friends, neighbors and family enriched his retirement years and he loved helping them with his handyman skills. He is survived by his daughters, Tricia Harper of Huntsville, and Marcia Mote (Bob) of Denver, N.C.; two grandchildren, Todd Mote (Janie) of Austin, Texas, and Karen Zabojnik (Aaron) of Allen, Texas; two great grandchildren, Isaac Thomas Mote and Emma Grace Mote of Austin, Texas, and many, many devoted nieces and nephews.
Visitation was held Sunday, March 21, 2010, from 1-2:45 p.m. at Rockco Funeral Home in Montevallo. Following visitation, graveside services were held at Salem Cemetery in Montevallo at 3 p.m. on Hwy. 15.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Please send donations to JDRF, 14 Office Park Circle, Suite 115, Birmingham, AL 35223.
Rockco Funeral Home of Montevallo directed.