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: 10/23/2024
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