Thomas "Tom" Henry McNamara's Obituary
Thomas "Tom" Henry McNamara, 91 of Lake Placid Florida passed away September 18, 2024, with family who loved him and the support of Good Shepherd Hospice.
The dedicated and loving Husband of 61 years to Margaret L. McNamara (Deceased) was Born Thomas Henry McNamara on June 21, 1933, in South Bend Indiana to William Carr Whitehead McNamara and Aveline Marie Probst McNamara. Tom, a graduate of St. Paul High School in 1952, soon enlisted in the United States Navy.
Tom met his Maggie while on leave from the Navy one weekend pumping gas at the family gas station in Marion Indiana. Tom said she was the best thing that ever happened to him in his life. They married and moved to Whiting Field, Milton Florida to the Naval Air Station until Tom fulfilled his service obligation in the Navy as Aviation Machinist Mate 3rd Class and served 3 years as Crash and Rescue on the Naval Airfield in Milton Florida. (1952-1956) This dedication to serve and rescue followed Tom through the rest of his life. Serving 13 years as a Volunteer Fire Fighter with the Bluffton Fire Department and on the Board of Directors formulating the Fire Department at Sun n’Lakes area in Lake Placid Florida.
After serving in the Navy, Tom and Marge made a home near Swayzee Indiana as Tom continued working as 50% owner at the Family Texaco specializing in Brake and Alignment.
Tom and Maggie lived in Marion until 1968, when the family relocated to Bluffton Indiana. Tom became Manager of Erie Stone in Bluffton, Markle and Montpelier Indiana overseeing the daily management from 1967 until retirement in 1988.
They began wintering at Lake Placid from Bluffton, Indiana beginning in 1988. Thomas was very active in the organization and participation of many Sun n’ Lakes Community Club House events as he and Marge were two of the original 23 founding members. Lake Placid became their full-time home.
A loving and caring Father of 4 children, Thomas & Brenda McNamara Jr., Teresa (McNamara) & Randy Melton, Timothy McNamara, all of Bluffton Indiana, and Tamara (McNamara) & Graham Goodfellow of Nagambie, Victoria, Australia. A very dedicated Father, who demonstrated conviction and integrity in his daily life.
Remembered as a humorous yet inspirational, intelligent, charismatic, inventive Grandpa full of life, the gentle and very caring Grandma Mac or G’Pa to eight grandchildren; Ike Gilbert & Yen Truong of San Diego, California, Dominice Gilbert & JR Lodico of St. Petersburg, Florida, Dustin & Jessica Melton of Florence, Arizona, Casey & Kelli Melton of Indianapolis, Indiana, Leslie (McNamara) & Michael Lindsay of Bluffton Indiana, Amanda McNamara of Ossian, and Scott McNamara of Bluffton, Indiana, Sarah McNamara (Deceased). “A Grandpa who gave guidance when asked, patient to explain a process or reason. Guiding by his personal values, a trait seen in his Grandchildren in their own life journey.
Thomas was a very kind, fun loving and proud Great Grandpa to great-grandsons, Grant and Sean Gilbert of San Diego, California along with Makayla & Millie (McNamara) Lindsay of Bluffton Indiana.
Thomas’s final journey was expectedly met with his usual stoic determination and matter of factual manner “THERE COMES A TIME, WHEN YOU JUST HAVE TO PARK YOUR CAR”.
Dear Loving Husband, Father, Dad, G-Paw, Grandpa, Great Grandpa, you will be so greatly missed.
As requested by Tom, there will be no funeral services.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Thomas’s memory can be directed to The Comfort Crew for Military Kids at comfortcrew.org. This not-for-profit organization helps military children handle loss. Phone: 512-337- (CREW (2739)) or 512-372-8359 donations can be made online at: www.comfortcrew.org A dedication can be noted online if desired.
“What we once enjoyed and deeply loved we can never lose,
for all that we love deeply becomes part of us.” -Helen Keller
Online condolences and the most recent obituary and service times can be found at www.bankspagetheus.com. Arrangements are entrusted to Banks/Page-Theus Funerals and Cremations, 410 Webster St. Wildwood, FL.
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