More detail on this person: NEWPORT NEWS - Colonel (Ret.) Thomas Edward Connell, 82,
answered his final call to duty to be with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Sunday, Sept. 26,
2010.
He was born in Muskegon, Mich., on March 6, 1928, to Francis and Delia Connell, where he later
married the love of his life, Charlotte, on June 20, 1953. He attended Michigan State University and
graduated with a degree in Police Administration in 1953, and later proudly served our country in
the U.S. Marine Corps and the U.S. Army for 32 years with two tours in Vietnam. He was awarded the
World War II Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Master Army Aviator Badge, Armed
Forces Reserve Medal, Air Medal, Bronze Star Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Vietnam Campaign
Medal, Vietnam Gallantry Cross, Vietnam Honor Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Presidential Unit
Citation, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon and the Legion of
Merit. He retired from Fort Eustis, Va., in 1983.
He is survived by his devoted wife of 57 years, Charlotte Ann Connell; three sons, Thomas F. Timothy
A. (Deborah) and Christopher M., all of Williamsburg; four grandchildren, Emily and Jennifer
Connell, and Will and Max Midkiff.
He is predeceased by his beloved daughter, Elizabeth Ann Midkiff; and his stepbrother, George Shaw.
A Catholic mass will be held in his honor at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 2, 2010, at the Fort Eustis
Regimental Chapel with family receiving friends following. Interment will be on Jan. 10, 2011, at
Arlington National Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or the American Transportation
Museum Fund at Drawer D, Fort Eustis, VA 23604.
We are eternally grateful for the love and support of our extended family and friends from the 11th
Helicopter Company from Nellingen, Germany. In addition, we would like to thank Dr. Ward and the
staff at The Gardens at Warwick Forest for their loving care. "Poppa" will be greatly missed by his
family and many friends.
Arrangements are under the care of Altmeyer Funeral Home - Denbigh Chapel, 12893 Jefferson Ave,
Newport News, VA 23608. Condolences may be left at www.altmeyer.com. View and post condolences
on our online guestbook at dailypress.com/guestbooks.
COL Tom Connell will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery on 10 Jan. 2011. Services will begin
at the small chapel at 10:45.
Burial information: Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, VA
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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Date posted on this site: 01/11/2025
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