SMITH THOM

WO1 Thom Smith was a potential VHPA member who died after his tour in Vietnam on 11/16/2006 at the age of 56.9 from Auto Accident
Saint Charles, IL
Date of Birth 12/10/1949
Served in the U.S. Army
This information was provided by SSN search 090108

More detail on this person: Thomas C. Smith ST. CHARLES, IL - Thomas C. Smith 56, of St. Charles, Illinois died early Thursday morning, November 16, 2006 as the result of an automobile accident. He was born December 10, 1949 in Prosser, Washington, the son of Carl and Florence "Pat" (Bastien) Smith. Tom was a graduate of Washington State University. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity. He served in the United States Army from July 1972 to October 1974 in the 155th Aviation Attack Helicopter Company in Ft. Ord, California where he became a flight instructor. After being discharged from the Army, Tom returned home to the family farm to begin his career as a third-generation wheat farmer. Tom's grandfather, Hans Smith, homesteaded in the Horse Heaven Hills (20 miles south of Kennewick, WA) in 1885. Tom became a partner in Carlsons Inc. (Carl's sons) and farmed with his father and brother Greg from 1974 until 1985 when he left to pursue his airline career. Tom grew up around airplanes because his father, Carl, was in the Air Transport Command during War World II as the Manager of Maintenance for TWA Airlines in Lisbon, Portugal before he returned to the US to join his two brothers, Henry and Elmer to farm. As a result Tom caught the flying bug at an early age. Tom earned his private pilot's license while in college and during the winters, he proceeded to earn many advance ratings; Tom even flew an ultra-light aircraft. For the next ten years, in addition to farming, Tom was a flight instructor and charter pilot. The year before Tom starting flying as a commercial pilot, he earned a Series 7 Investment license and worked for an investment firm for a short period of time. In 1985 Tom realized his dream of becoming an airline pilot when San Juan Airlines employed him; he also was a pilot for Horizon Airlines. Once Tom earned enough jet experience he was hired by American Airlines and has been based in Chicago for the last 19 years. Tom flew the following airplanes for American during his career: Boeing 727, MD80, DC10, Boeing 757, Boeing 767, F100, Boeing 737 and last flew as a Super 80 Captain. Even though Tom was living his dream job, you could not take the "farmer" out of the boy and he spent the last 13 years "farming" his St. Charles 2-acre yard that included an orchard, vegetable and perennial gardens. Tom was so serious about his "city" farming he became a graduate of the University of Illinois Extension Master Gardener Program. Tom had a wonderful sense of humor in addition to a quick wit and loved observing unexpected reactions from others. Tom had a big heart and especially loved dogs and children. He was an adventurer at heart and had many hidden talents including riding a unicycle and juggling in the local States Day Parade as a clown in his hometown. Tom loved the outdoors and camping and hiking in his beloved Washington state. He also played varsity tennis in high school, enjoyed water and snow skiing, was an excellent golfer and maintained a 10 (or less) handicap in golf, even after three back surgeries, in addition to being an avid reader and amateur photographer. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Geneva. He is survived by his beloved wife of 25 years, Patsy; his loving children, Brandon T. Smith, a senior at Western Illinois University, Laura E. Smith, a freshman at Baylor University in Waco, Texas and Taylor P. Smith, a sophomore at St. Charles North High School; his mother, Florence "Pat" Smith of Prosser, Washington and his brother, Greg Smith of Richland, Washington. He was preceded in death by his brother Richard Smith and his father Carl Smith. Visitation will be held from 3:00-7:00 P.M. on Tuesday, November 21st at Prosser Funeral Home. A funeral service celebrating Tom's life will be held at 10:00 A.M. Wednesday, November 22, 2006 at the First Presbyterian Church in Prosser. Concluding services and burial will follow in the Prosser Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Mr. Smith's memory may be made to the "Smith Children's Education Fund" c/o 5/3 Bank, 1525 W. Main Street, St. Charles, IL 60174 for the benefit of the children's education fund.

Burial information: Prosser Cemetery, Prosser, WA

This information was last updated 08/24/2020

Please send additions or corrections to: HQ@vhpa.org VHPA Headquarters

Return to the Helicopter Pilot DAT name list

Return to VHPA web site

Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024


Copyright © 1998 - 2024 Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association