Thomas “Tom” George English, 96, of Statesville, N.C., passed away on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at the Gordon Hospice House.

He was born in Anselmo, Neb., on October 10, 1928, to the late Thomas G. English and Mildred Dickson English. He was also preceded in death by a daughter, Carolyn Parker, and son-in-law, Clyde Parker.

Tom attended Hastings College in Nebraska and the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, where he earned degrees in Chemistry and English. He also earned a master’s degree in Library Science at Florida State University in Tallahassee.

Prior to earning his master’s degree, Tom proudly served in the Korean War as an officer in the Navy, including time at sea on the USS Juneau, a Navy Light Armored Cruiser.

During his professional career and retirement, Tom also lived in Virginia, California, Minnesota, Arizona and North Carolina.

During the last years of his professional career as a librarian for the University of Minnesota library system, Tom had the privilege of working as the head of the Natural History Library. During that time, Tom enjoyed the summer opening and closing of the University of Minnesota library at the Itasca Biological Station in Northern Minnesota.

During retirement, Tom enjoyed birding, playing tennis, and traveling to various places, including Alaska, China, Europe, and Mexico. Later in his life, Tom’s retirement activities were affected by progressive blindness from macular degeneration. However, he kept a positive outlook and still managed to follow the University of Nebraska football team and college football (especially Big 10), in general.

Tom is survived by his son, Bill English (Debbie Birnley), and a daughter, Cynde English (Denise Nettesheim).

Nicholson Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.