By Staff
Mr. Edward Thomas “Tom” Dority, Jr., age 79, a resident of 2382 Market Street Ext. Washington, died Saturday, July 19, 2009 at his home.
A memorial service will be held 8 p.m. Wednesday, September 23, 2009 from the Chapel of Paul Funeral Home, Washington, conducted by Rev. Lee Hendricks and Rev. Gary Murphree.
Mr. Dority was born in Durham, N.C. on March 3, 1930. He was the son of the late Edward Thomas Dority, Jr. and Mary Elizabeth Manuel Dority. Mr. Dority graduated from Pheiffer College in Misenhaimer, N.C. and attended Washington State University in Pullman, Washington. He worked for the Winston-Salem ABC Board and late with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. While with the ATF, Mr. Dority became a Special Agent in Charge. As a Special Agent in Charge, Mr. Dority worked in South Carolina; Welch, West Virginia; Detroit, Michigan (with the Organized Crime Unit) and Grand Rapids, Michigan. He was transferred to the National Office in Washington, D.C. where he initiated, organized and supervised the first program to trace firearms. While at the National Office, Mr. Dority supervised many programs. He was technical advisor for the TV program “O’Hara, U.S. Treasury”, starring David Jansen. Mr. Dority retired in 1980.
Mr. Dority served in the U.S. Navy, on the USS Lake Champaign, during the Korea Conflict. He was a former Mason and a member of Wares Chapel United Methodist Church.
On August 13, 1955, Mr. Dority married the former Joyce Woolard, who survives.
Surviving with his wife are two sons, Greg Dority of Washington, Mike Dority of TianJian, China; a granddaughter, Catie Dority of Washington; a sister, Betsy Dority Collins of Statesville, N.C. and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, Mr. Dority was preceded in death by a sister, Hattie Frances Dority Bray.
The family will receive friends from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, September 23, 2009 at Paul Funeral Home, Washington and other times at the home, 2383 Market Street Ext., Washington.
Flowers are welcome or memorials may be made to the Wares Chapel United Methodist Church Building Fund, 2788 N. Market Street Ext., Washington, N.C. 27889 or Aseracare Hospice, 4051 S. Memorial Drive, Winterville, N.C. 28590.
You may send condolences to the family or view Mr. Dority’s memorial service by visiting www.paulfuneralhome.com
Paul Funeral Home of Washington is privileged to serve the Dority family.
Paid Obituary