Daniel Thomas "Tom" Hannon Iii

HENDERSON-Daniel Thomas “Tom” Hannon III, 83, a resident of Parker Lane, died Thursday, November 25, 2021 at his home. He was the son of the late Daniel Thomas Hannon, Jr. and Ada Newell Watkins Hannon. Tom was born in Henderson on August 12, 1938. He attended the Henderson public schools and graduated from Henderson High School in 1956. Tom served as the President of his high school class for all four years and played baseball and basketball. After high school, he attended East Carolina University and graduated with a B.A. degree in Business Administration in 1959. In 1980, Tom was elected President of the national East Carolina University Alumni Association and until his death, he was an Emeritus member of the Alumni Board. After serving for two years in the United States Army, Tom joined Burlington Industries, Inc. and served in various administrative capacities in Greensboro, Gastonia and Oxford. While in Greensboro, Tom met “the most beautiful girl that I ever saw.” She was Anna Kathryn Misenheimer of Maxton. After dating two and a half years, Anna and Tom were married on June 6, 1964. In 1973, Anna and Tom moved to Henderson where he joined Rose’s Stores Inc., as Director of Administration. Tom retired from Rose’s in 1992 as Senior Manager of Associate Relations. After retiring from Rose’s, Tom purchased part ownership of Henderson Fruit and Produce serving as Vice President and Treasurer while working with his good friend, Bill Fleming. From 2001 until 2005, Tom had the opportunity to indulge in one of his favorite hobbies “talking and telling his tales.” This came when Tom was asked by the owner of Radio Station WIZS to fill in temporarily as a talk show host on two programs, Town Talk and Sports Talk. The temporary job lasted four years until, as Tom said, “I ran out of stories.” Every few days, he reminded his audience that his motto was “often wrong but never in doubt.” During their years of marriage, Anna mostly kept Tom on an even keel and raised three beautiful children while also teaching in the public schools for 22 years. In addition to his wife of 57 years, Anna Misenheimer Hannon, Tom is survived by daughters, Kathryn Lee Phillips (Bryan), and Robyn Watkins Hipp (Mike) all of Greensboro; and son Daniel Thomas “Dan” Hannon IV (Amy) of Indian Trail; seven grandchildren, Annie Phillips, Sara Margaret Phillips, Caroline Phillips, Hannon Phillips, Lizzie Hannon, Emily Hipp Caudle (Derek), and Mary Hipp; and three great grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he was preceded by his grandparents Daniel Thomas Hannon, Sr., Dora Faulkner Hannon, W. G. Watkins, Sr. and Elia Daniels Watkins. A graveside memorial service to celebrate the life of Tom will be held Saturday August 13, 2022 at 11:00 am at Sunset Gardens by Dr. Ronald S. Cava and Rev. Joyce Odom. The family will receive friends following the service at Sunset Gardens. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church, P. O. Box 75, Henderson, NC 27536 or ACTS, P. O. Box 25, Henderson, NC 27536.