Thomas Franklin Stallings | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Thomas Franklin Stallings, age 96, a resident of Cypress Glen, formerly of Washington, NC died with family by his side. Visitation will be 5:00PM to 7:00PM Monday, December 9, 2024, at Paul Funeral Home where Dr. Stallings' family will receive visitors and friends.

    A memorial service and burial will be held at a later date to be determined.

    Frank was born and raised in Smithfield, NC, the only child of Thomas Stallings and Mary Barber Stallings (Granny). The childhood achievement that he was most proud of was obtaining the rank of Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America. Frank attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and obtained the honor of Phi Beta Kappa. He attended UNC's medical school for the first two years and transferred to Harvard Medical School where he obtained his medical degree. But an even greater thing that happened to him in Boston was meeting Alice Hubbard on a blind date on New Year's Eve in 1953. The two married the following August 1954 and began a love story beyond comprehension. He is survived by his five children: Cindy Stallings Vandewart (Mark); Donald Frank Stallings; John H. Stallings (Bonnie), Mary Ruth S. Hanna (Michael) and Emma Alice Stallings. He is also survived by seven grandchildren: Ashley Vandewart Lasher, Hillary Stallings Vandewart (Ian Enniss); Taylor Stallings Welker (David); SAH Hanna; Jonas Frank Hanna; Frederick Thomas Holscher and Mary Emma Holscher and two great-grandchildren: Jeanette Lasher and Madelyn Lasher.

    After graduation from medical school, he completed a residency at Chapel Hill in general practice and then enlisted in the US Army and served as a doctor in Bad Kreuznach, Germany. Frank and Alice chose Washington, NC to plant their roots and Frank opened up a medical practice and then was convinced to pursue his pediatric license. He went to Duke University and New Orleans/Charity Hospital to get his pediatric license and then returned to Washington where he joined Washington Pediatrics and cared for thousands of children in eastern North Carolina.

    Frank and his family lived in and restored the beautiful and historical Elmwood home from 1965 until 2015 earning the Rena K. Terrell Award on two occasions for their outstanding work on Elmwood. He was an avid tennis player, enjoyed hunting, fishing and sailing in eastern NC. He backpacked all over the Rocky Mountains. He was a member of St. Peter's Episcopal Church where he sang in the choir. He served on the DSS Board. In his later years, he became an avid reader. Always feeling a connection with his roots, he oversaw the transition of the family tobacco farm into a longleaf pine tree farm for which he became the Johnston County Tree Farmer of the Year. Frank loved talking with people and made many wonderful friendships throughout his life. Father, husband, doctor, farmer, friend, grandfather - Frank made this world a better place and those who were lucky enough to know him were better people because of it.

    Memorials may be made to the Arts of the Pamlico (Alice Hubbard Stallings Fine Arts Show), PO Box 634, Washington, NC 27889

    Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Stallings family.