Thomas Wilson Tweed

Thomas Wilson Tweed, 94, of Asheville, died on Tuesday, April 7, 2015. He passed away at his home sitting in his recliner watching his favorite baseball team, the Atlanta Braves. A native of Fairview, Tom was a son of the late Hamilton and Jenny Hensley Tweed. He was also preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Juanita Lovingood Tweed; three sisters and two brothers. Tom graduated from Fairview High School and was recruited by American Enka Corp. to play baseball for their industrial league team. He also played basketball for the company. In his late twenties he was approached by the St. Louis Cardinals MLB team and played for a while in their minor league system at Rocky Mount. Having a family to support, he gave up professional baseball and returned to American Enka continuing to work and play baseball and basketball. He was an avid bowler, once having bowled a 299 game, missing one pin in the last frame. He was a referee in WNC covering many high school and college football and basketball games. Tom was a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps, serving during WWII in the 1st Marine Division as a Drill Instructor at Paris Island where he was an expert marksman. He reached the rank of Sergeant. In active combat in the Battle of Okinawa, he was wounded and spent 5 months in the hospital. He was a recipient of the Purple Heart. After his discharge, Tom returned to work at American Enka. He retired as Ground Maintenance Supervisor after 42 years of service. Tom was a long time supporter of the Enka Community having served on the Enka District School Board. He was president of the Enka High Boosters Club, and president of the WNC Referee's Association. For several years, Tom was a Troop Leader for the local Boy Scouts. As a member of Oak Forest Presbyterian Church for over 65 years, he served numerous terms as an Elder and a Deacon. He also served as chairman of the church's building committee and spent numerous hours working on the facility and grounds. Tom coached his son Gary's Babe Ruth and Senior Babe Ruth teams for 6 years winning several league championships. In 1969 Tom was one of the coaches for Gary's all-star team that won the Senior Babe Ruth Southeastern Regional Championship. The team made it to 3rd place in the Senior Babe Ruth World Series. In 1970 Tom also coached Gary's all-star team that won the Senior Babe Ruth State Championship and competed in the Southeastern Regional tournament. Several of these players went to Enka High School and played with Gary on the 1970 Enka High School state championship team. Tom is survived by daughter, Diana Tweed Fisher and husband James Henry Fisher; son, Gary Thomas Tweed and wife Toni Glenn Tweed; brother, William Howard Tweed; four grandchildren, Hunter Tweed and wife Kristi, Brandon Tweed, Ryan Fisher and wife Katrina and Jared Fisher and wife Sandrine Danielson; and six great grandchildren. Tom was dearly loved by his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He was known to the grandchildren as "Buddy" and was a terrific storyteller; always keeping them entertained with his endless supply of tales of the deeds and, mostly, misdeeds, of his childhood. He truly was their "buddy". He was devoted to his wife, Juanita, and cared for her during her final years as she battled dementia, fulfilling a lifetime promise to care for her in their home. A memorial service for Tom will be at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 18, 2015, at the Groce Funeral Home chapel on Patton Ave. with the Reverends Ron Brown and Richard Kinsland officiating. His family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at Groce. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a charity of one's choice.