Person:Thomas Eliason (4)

CHESTERTOWN Thomas Walker Eliason, 93, passed away at home Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2011.

Born in Chestertown on June 6, 1918, he was the son of Thomas Wilson Eliason and Margeurite Cree Eliason. He was married for 60 years to Virginia Hoopes Eliason, and had five daughters and eight grandchildren.

He graduated from Washington College in 1942, married his college sweetheart in 1943, and served in the Army Air Force during World War II. He coached the Washington College tennis team from 1948-1955, and again from 1958-1963, and was inducted into the WC Hall of Fame in 2009. For many years, he was secretary of the Chestertown Cemetery, and served on its board of directors until his death.

He was a man of many interests and talents, and lived a vigorous life into old age. Tom loved all kinds of weather, and was frequently consulted by family and friends as to what was happening "upstairs." He began recording rainfall and temperature data when he was only 8 years old, and became an official weather observer for the National Weather Service when he was still a teenager. He received many awards for the excellence of his data and his long years of service, including the prestigious Thomas Jefferson award. This year, he was to receive recognition for 75 years of weather observation.

He loved hiking, especially in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, birdwatching (participating in the annual Audubon Christmas Count for many years), playing golf and tennis and bowling. He enjoyed gardening and tended a huge vegetable garden all his life. He was a voracious reader of history, politics and economics.

Tom lost his wife, Ginny, in 2004, and his daughter, Pisha, in October 2010.

He is survived by siblings Mary Margaret Forney, John Eliason, Alan Eliason, Walker Eliason and David Eliason; his daughters, Nancy Drazga, Judy Eliason, Debby Eliason and Ginny Silva; grandchildren Faith Acker, Hank Silva, Thomas Silva, Joseph Silva, James Silva, Grace Silva, Susanna Silva and Maria Silva; sons-in-law Bill Drazga and Jeff Silva; as well as nieces, nephews and cousins.

Funeral services were held Saturday, Sept. 17, at Shrewsbury Episcopal Church. Burial was held in St. Paul's Cemetery, Chestertown.

Memorials may be offered to the St. Joseph's Indian School, 1301 North Main St., Chamberlain, SD 57325.

Funeral arrangements were made by the Galena Funeral Home of Stephen L. Schaech.