Brevard- Thomas E. W. Brown, beloved father of Thomas J. R. Brown and Kathryn Brown Kitahata, died on February 2, 2015. He was 94 years old. Tom lived an amazing life that touched many people in many ways. He enlisted in the RAF in 1938, at the age of 17. He fought in Burma (Burma Hump), China and India. He also served as an aircrew member during the Battle of Britain and in North Africa. He was awarded the Star for Participation in the Battle of Britain, the Kings Commendation for Brave Conduct, and numerous other medals for his service. He joined the Army Air Corp in 1943 and was discharged in 1945. He served 28 years with the Wisconsin Air National Guard and retired with a rank of E9. Once Tom retired from the military, he started his second career and never looked back. As a boy in England, one of his favorite sports was tennis. Little did he know what would come from his tennis, at that young age. When he retired from the Air Guard he picked up his tennis racquet and the rest is history. He became a champion amateur player and in 1960 he became a referee, which led to his becoming a USTA umpire and he began officiating professional tennis matches in 1969. He travelled throughout the Midwest and helped run the Big 10 College Tournaments. His playing and umpiring record from 1964 to 2009 in tournaments was outstanding. He was asked to officiate at Wimbledon, England, which he did for 6 years and the US Open in New York, for 13 years. He loved tennis and wanted to share his knowledge and love of the game to all ages and would do so at every opportunity. A quote from "Tom's Tennis Philosophy is "Do not link winning with success, and losing with failure. Instead judge yourself on whether you gave your best effort and stayed positive." My brother and I, and tennis, have lost a dear father and friend. Memorial Services will be held 11am, Saturday, February 7, 2015 at Moody-Connolly Funeral Home with Rev. Kerry Purselle officiating. Military honors will be conducted by the Honor Guard of Transylvania County. Burial will be held at a later date at Blur Ridge Gardens of Memory. Online condolences may be left at www.moodyconollyfuneralhome.com. Moody-Connolly Funeral Home is assisting the family.