Thomas Edwin Tarleton

Thomas Edwin “Tom” Tarleton, 83, of Wilson, passed away on Tuesday, April 7, 2026. A funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, April 13, 2026, at Forest Hills Baptist Church, 1407 Forest Hills Road NW, Wilson. Interment will follow in Evergreen Memorial Park, Wilson. Reverend Ken Cobb will officiate.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, April 12, 2026, from 6:00–8:00 p.m. at Joyner’s Funeral Home, 4100 Raleigh Road Parkway, Wilson.

Tom graduated from Rowan High School in 1961 and later earned a degree in Civil Engineering Technology from Gaston College. Shortly after graduation, he entered the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s Statesville office training program and subsequently joined NCDOT full time.

In 1964, Tom enlisted in the U.S. Army, faithfully serving his country for 35 years through both active duty and reserve service. His military career included assignments in Germany and England, as well as deployment during Desert Storm, where he spent eight months in Saudi Arabia and Iraq. His commendations include the Bronze Star Medal, Army Commendation Medal with three Oak Leaf Cluster, National Defense Medal, Saudi Arabia Medal, and the Liberation of Kuwait Medal.

Throughout his years with NCDOT, Tom worked in the Location and Survey Department as Area Engineer in several counties. In 1986, he was promoted to Area Supervisor of Surveying for Eastern North Carolina, overseeing the eastern thirty-three counties from South Carolina to Virginia. His favorite work was along the Outer Banks on NC Highway 12—from Kitty Hawk to Ocracoke Island—especially around Oregon Inlet and the Bonner Bridge, now the Marc Basnight Bridge. A licensed Land Surveyor since 1975, Tom contributed to numerous major projects, including the wetland mitigation manual, horizontal alignment and right-of-way coordination for NC Highway 12, and development of the new Basnight Bridge. In recognition of his dedication, a survey marker at the bridge bears the stamp “Tom T.” He retired from NCDOT on April 1, 2000, after thirty-five and a half years of service, and continued part-time for an additional twenty-three years as a Special Project Engineer. Upon retirement, he was awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine by Governor James B. Hunt.

Tom cherished planning golf trips and time spent on the golf course with friends, where his “Atta Boy” became a beloved expression of encouragement and camaraderie.

Tom is survived by his wife of thirty-five years, Patricia A. Tarleton; daughters, Jill Rae Tarleton, Stacey Cooper and husband Miles, and Brooke Rule and husband John; and grandchildren, Alex and wife Kate, Harvey, and Gala. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by Jill’s mother, Wanda Johnson Tarleton; his parents, Nannie and Lonnie Tarleton; sisters, Nancy and Louise; brother, Jim; niece, Darielle; and nephew, Ronnie.

Memorials may be made in Tom’s memory to The Maggie Society Canine Rescue, Rehabilitation and Education, 606 Trinity Drive, Wilson, North Carolina 27893.

Condolences directed to Joyner’s Funeral Home and Crematory at www.joyners.net.