Thomas Karl Brust

Thomas Karl Brust, 60, of 36th Ave., NE, Hickory, NC died Sunday, October 7, 2007 at Frye Regional Medical Center in Hickory of a sudden heart attack. He was born November 29, 1946, in Bethesda, MD, and was a son of the late George Adam Brust and Blanche Mae Hundley Brust. Tom was a US Army veteran and stationed in Germany during the Vietnam Conflict. After his discharge, he went to college at American University in Washington, DC. Following graduation, Tom worked for NASA for several years, and then became a contract specialist for the US Navy and the US Coast Guard. Towards the end of his career, he was the senior contract officer for the Coast Guard until his retirement. Tom was a member of the Lions Club in Manassas, VA, and also volunteered as a coach for Special Olympics. After he retired in June 2007 from the military, Tom moved to Hickory to be with his family.He is survived by his wife, Christine Kate Edith Sann Brust of the home; children, Karin Whisnant and husband, Kevin of Morganton, Andrew Karl Brust of Winchester, VA, and Valerie Halo and husband, Zac of Catonsville, MD; his brother, Stephen Brust and wife, Claudia of Washington State; his mother-in-law, Edith Sann of Kensington, MD; and grandchildren, Erika Whisnant and Conlan Whisnant.A Celebration of Life will be held at 10 a.m., Wednesday, October 10, 2007, in the Colonial Chapel of Sossoman Funeral Home with military rites conducted by the American Legion Post #234 of Valdese. The family will receive friends immediately following the service.