Thomas Lee Potter Mr.

Thomas L. Potter passed away on November 14, 2014 in Georgia. He was just a few days short of the age of 88. Tom served 2 years in the US Navy aboard an LST in the Pacific theater during WWII. Following his discharge from the Navy, he earned an engineering degree at North Dakota State, in Fargo, ND. Tom began his career with Jet Propulsion Laboratory in 1953 while working at the White Sands Proving Ground in New Mexico. In 1959 he transferred t Barstow, CA to help establish JPL’s Goldstone Tracking Station. Tom continued there until Oct. 1984, thus completing 31 years of work with the JPL team. Shortly after retirement he was given the opportunity to work with a company called Space Com in Redondo Beach, CA. Their mission was to launch an earth orbiting satellite to be used for deep space tracking. This satellite was aboard the ill0fated space shuttle, Challenger, which launched from Cape Canaveral in Jan. 1987. The Challenger disaster prompted the end of Tom’s work in the aerospace industry. He returned to Apple Valley, CA to continue his retirement. He and Phyllis moved from Apple Valley, CA to Mesa, AZ, Sun City, AZ and finally to Braselton, GA. After 64 years of marriage Tom leaves behind his loving wife Phyllis, along with 2 children; Ross (Cyndee) Potter of Corvallis, MT. and Peggy (Ken) Parrish of Braselton, GA. Also 6 grandchildren: Misty (TJ) Wohltman of Corvallis, MT, Sandi (Kevin) Brookshire of Lawrenceville, GA, Ryan (Carrie) Potter of Corvallis, MT, Bill Parrish of Atlanta, GA, Cameron (Katie) Potter of Corvallis, MT and Jeremy (Rachel) Potter of Corvallis, MT, 17 great grandchildren and 3 great-great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and 2 brothers. Services will be held at a later date. Wages and Sons Gwinnett Chapel 1031 Lawrenceville Hwy, Lawrenceville, GA. On-line condolences can be expressed at www.wagesandsons.com.