Cpo Tom M. Sebastian, Usn (Ret.)

Tom Sebastian, 73, entered into rest on Thursday, July 5, 2018.

A genuine native and charter member of Robins Air Force Base and Warner Robins, Georgia, Tom was born in July of 1944 at Robins Army Air Depot. He grew up in Warner Robins and witnessed the rapid growth of his city and large migrations of families from Mitchell Air Force Base in New York, Brooks Air Force Base in Alabama, and Norton Air Force Base in California. Tom enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserve in October of 1961 and graduated in 1962 from Warner Robins High School, the only high school in Warner Robins at that time. He completed his freshman year at Mercer University in 1963. Not having enough finances to complete the remaining years and not wanting to add a financial burden to his parents, Tom decided to go on active duty for the Navy. In 1966, he discharged from the military and returned to Warner Robins to work at WR-ALC as a machinist in the Plant Services Division of the Directorate of Maintenance, now called the 402 Maintenance Wing.

In September of 1966, Tom returned to Mercer to complete his degree program. While attending classes during the day and working second and third shifts at WR-ALC, he received his Bachelor’s Degree in June of 1972. The same year, Tom re-enlisted into the Naval Reserves in Macon, Georgia and the following year, completed Air Command and Staff College.

In 1975, Tom volunteered to join a new Naval Reserve Diving Unit called Harbor Clearance Unit 208 that was later changed to Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit Two, Det 608. He retired with the rank of Chief Petty Officer in 1994 with 27 years with the Naval Reserve. Tom had the honor of serving in Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit Two, Det 608 as a salvage diver and training officer for 20 of his 27 years of naval service.

A few years after his retirement from the Navy, Tom returned to Robins Air Force Base and was assigned to the Warner Robins Automated Systems Demonstration Office. He was ultimately reassigned to the Joint STARS Program Office as the Program Manager for the Prime Mission Equipment (PME). He assisted in the development of an organic depot capability to support the Joint STARS Radar System and E-8C aircraft. In 2004, Tom was reassigned as a Program Manager for the Training Team. In this capacity, he managed the installation of a new PME Maintenance Training Device currently used to train the Wing’s maintenance technicians on the various PME end items and their subassemblies of the radar system used on the Joint STARS aircraft. He also developed and defended the budget requirements for the various training sections and developed the justifications for new funding requirements used by the Training Team. He served in this capacity until his final retirement in 2006.

The world has lost a big, beautiful soul and we’re all better off for having known Tom.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Daniel and Gladys Sebastian; and sister, Carol.

Tom’s memory will forever be treasured by his devoted wife of 36 years, Donna Ashmore of Macon; son, Taz Cantrell (Chris) of Osceola, Missouri; grandchildren, Megan Cantrell Foster (Austin) and Johnathan Lersch (Stephanie); and great-grandson, Gavin Foster.

A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, July 28, 2018 in the chapel of McCullough Funeral Home Chapel. Following the service, Tom will be laid to rest in Magnolia Park Cemetery.

McCullough Funeral Home and Crematory has the privilege of being entrusted with Mr. Sebastian’s arrangements.