Thomas William Evernham

Thomas William Evernham — Tom to everyone who knew him — passed away on April 8, 2026, at the age of 84. Born and raised in Anderson, Indiana, Tom lived a life defined by the five things he loved most: family and friends, faith, flying, and fixing. In each, he gave everything he had, always leaving things in better shape than he found them. Tom is survived by his beloved wife, Kathy Evernham; his sons Jeff Evernham (Donna) and Kevin Evernham (Lisa); and his seven grandchildren, Kyle, Ryan, Alexa, and Julia, and Chloe, Kassidy, and Kate. He invested intentionally in all of them, teaching them how things work and fostering a curiosity that directly influenced their career choices as well as their perspective on life. For Tom, friends didn’t stay friends long, but quickly became part of his family, receiving the same devotion, selflessness, and helping spirit. His love was constant, with encouragement and support at every step, and accompanied by his ever-present dry sense of humor. Tom’s faith was the foundation for everything he did and everything he believed. It was not loud or showy but was deep and unshakable, guiding every decision he made. His favorite moment of the week was a simple one: standing by the lake at St. Andrew’s Chapel in Sanford, Florida, his home church, reflecting on God, His love for us, and the goodness of a life lived for Jesus Christ. A graduate of General Motors Institute with a degree in electrical engineering and then an MBA from Stanford University, Tom built a distinguished career with General Motors, rising quickly from engineer to management. Following the opportunities at GM took him to Indiana, Michigan, California, New York, and back again multiple times — never once losing the curiosity and drive that defined him. After selling the treasured lake house in Traverse City, he retired to the Spruce Creek fly-in community in Port Orange, Florida, and spent his summers in the mountains of Brevard, North Carolina. Tom was also a proud and devoted servant of his country. He flew fighter jets for 12 years with the 122nd Fighter Wing of the Indiana Air National Guard — the “Blacksnakes” — out of Fort Wayne, piloting both the F-84 Thunderstreak and primarily the F-100 Super Sabre. After his military service, he continued flying privately, logging time in multiple aircraft, with a particular affection for the speed and power of the TBM700 and the nimbleness of the TB-30 Epsilon, a military trainer. Whether flying formation with RETRO flight, performing aerobatics, transporting the medically needy with Angel Flights, or skimming low over the beach just because he could, Tom was in his glory when he was in the air. And then there was the fixing. Tom fixed everything. His command of electronics, mechanics, and all gadgets and gizmos was encyclopedic, and he wielded it generously to others — always another project, always another neighbor or family member who needed something made right. His shop was never idle, and neither was he. Those who knew him will remember a man of remarkable energy and vigor, always tinkering, always building, always solving, and spending time at “the farm” renovating and repairing. In keeping with who he was — a man who never stopped learning, never stopped contributing — Tom’s final gift was the donation of his body to science, so that his last act on this earth might be to teach the next generation how to fix what is broken.

Thomas William Evernham

January 28, 1942 - April 8, 2026