Thomas Hamilton King, 99, passed away Friday, April 30, 2021. Born January 24, 1922 in the District of Columbia, Tom graduated from Anacostia Junior-Senior High School. Tom moved to Hampton, VA in 1941 to attend NACA Apprentice School and later began his career as a model builder. He advanced to become Supervisor of the NASA Model Shop working on such projects as the Skylab mission for which he received a certificate of achievement for his "excellence in the many critical tasks that made the first Skylab mission possible."  The Skylab program was the beginning of the International space station. He also worked with renowned aeronautical researchers on such programs as the supercritical airfoil and the "coke bottle" fuselage shape.  Tom also made models for the Apollo 11 Mission to the moon.  He retired in January, 1980 after more than 38 years of dedicated service.

Tom is survived by stepsons: Richard Ardell Everett (Camelia) and William Wyatt Everett (Faye); grandchildren: Alicia Bowen (Walter), Sandra Taylor (Mark), Krista Barnes (James), Elizabeth Harlan (Matt), and William Everett Jr. (Sharyn); and great grandchildren: Laura Bowen and Haley Bowen, Grace Barnes and Nathanial Barnes, Ashley Taylor and Carson Taylor, and Cecelia Everett.

Tom was predeceased by his parents Verner and Helen King; wife Betsyann Wyatt King; son Thomas Hamilton King Jr.; brothers: Albert King and Edward King; and sister Alice Bird.

Tom was of the Catholic faith and attended St. Joseph Catholic Church after moving to the Buckroe area of Hampton. He was a devoted husband to his wife Betsy, always by her side until her death in 2013. Tom enjoyed fishing, hunting, cooking, building wooden toys for his children and grandchildren. Family and friends shared lots of laughs and good food in Tom and Betsy's Buckroe home.

A graveside service officiated by Dr. Jay Russ will be held Tuesday, May 4 at 2pm at Clark Cemetery.  The service will be livestreamed on the funeral home Facebook page or you can CLICK HERE at 1:55 PM .

Memorials may be sent to Clark Cemetery Fund c/o Mary Rousseau, 6 Riding Path, Hampton, VA 23669.

Arrangements are under the direction of R. Hayden Smith Funeral Home.