Thomas E. Wilson Jr. ’66

Thomas E. Wilson Jr. ’66 died on his farm in Topsham, Vermont, on August 1, 2021. Born and raised in Detroit, at Dartmouth Tom ran track and cross country and was a member of Phi Kappa Sigma and Army ROTC. Commissioned as an Army officer upon graduation he served two tours in Vietnam, during which he was decorated for bravery. Upon returning to the States Tom was drawn to the wilds of Alaska, where he learned to make traditional wooden dog sleds and put together a dog team that won second place in the North American Freight Championship. He met his future wife, Donna Townshend, when they were both cast in a community theater production and swept her off her feet. They spent several years together in Alaska before deciding to move south to Vermont to pursue their dream of living on a farm. They bought the old Dimock Orchard in Topsham in 1975 and began the work of reclaiming the fields and orchards, which had not been worked by the previous owners. Through the years Tom cleared acres of hayfields, built barns and houses, raised sheep, pressed cider, worked with wood, and homeschooled his children. Tom loved Jesus Christ, his wife, his kids, his neighbors, his country, and his farm. He is survived by Donna; children Aurora, David, Grace, and Justice, and their spouses; and grandchildren Jack and Charlie.