For everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven
Thomas J. Begley
Thomas J. Begley passed on quietly at home February 1, 2010. He was born in Corbin, Kentucky and moved permanently to Vero Beach forty-six years ago. He enlisted in the Army at 17, and served as an infantry troop in the Century Division and rose to the rank of Sergeant. He was awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart, and three Eastern Theater of Operation Medals among other medals. After the War he attended Union College in Barbourville, KY and then the University of Kentucky in Lexington. After college he moved to Dayton, Ohio where he was an Instructor in Link Synthetic Trainers at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. He also taught Radio Navigation for T33's, Celestial Instruction, evaluated the first side by side synthetic trainer T34. This began a love of flying that he maintained throughout his life. He held various flying ratings to include multi-engine instructor.
He moved to Florida in the early 1960s and worked for the State ABCT, stationed in West Palm Beach. In 1964 he moved to Vero, he was an Instructor Pilot for Erdle and Wilder Aircraft and later went to work for the United States Postal Service in Vero Beach. After retirement he was a Town Councilman for Indian River Shores, and helped shape the area that would become the home of many large scale developments to include Johns Island. He dabbled in the citrus industry with a few family groves that provided jobs for Indian River County residents and provided family and friends with Indian River fruit. He became actively involved with the Veterans of Foreign Wars and served as Commander of the VFW of the local chapter.
He loved his family, friends, pets and nature. He was always friendly, cheerful and would crack a joke that could make your day. He will be greatly missed by those that knew him and especially the ones that loved him.
Survivors include his daughter Cheryl Barkwell (Gene), and son Dan W. Smith (Estelle) of Vero Beach, four grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and sister Mary Gilliam of Corbin, KY.
A family service will be conducted in Corbin, KY. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions should be made to Humane Society of Vero Beach, PO Box 644, Vero Beach, FL 32961.