Thomas Clarence Perry, 90
Thomas Clarence Perry, 90, of Kalispell, passed away Sunday, May 25, 2008, at his residence in Kalispell. He was born May 30, 1918, in Kalispell to Thomas Samuel and Vesta Avis (Haines) Perry.
Tom graduated from Flathead County High School in 1936, after which he attended Montana State University for one year, then attended Brigham Young University (BYU), where he completed his degree in business marketing in 1941.
During World War II, Tom enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps as a cadet and completed flight training at Luke Field, Ariz., where he was commissioned as a second lieutenant. He was assigned to the Newcastle Army Airbase in Wilmington, Del.
On June 20, 1942, Tom married Naomi Clark in Baltimore.
Tom served as a pilot for about six years during the war and achieved the rank of major. He served mainly in the European Theater, but also flew extensively on missions to South America, Africa, the Middle East and China. He also served in the Army Air Force Reserve for several years after the war.
After military service, Tom flew for Western Airlines for a few years and then moved back to Kalispell, where he went into business with his father, Thomas S. Perry, at Eagle Shoe Company. He participated actively in local service organizations, such as the Jaycees and Kiwanis Club. He managed the store until 1968, when he sold the business.
For the remainder of his professional career, he taught business classes at Flathead Valley Community College. He retired from the college after teaching for more than 20 years. In addition to managing the store and teaching at the college, he continued to fly part time for more than 35 years as a flight instructor and as a commercial pilot for such organizations as the U.S. Forest Service and the University of Washington.
Throughout his life, Tom was very active in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, where he served as branch president, counselor in the bishopric, district presidency, stake presidency and in many other capacities.
Tom is survived by his wife, Naomi Perry, of Kalispell; children, Mary Louise Hartman and husband, Wallace, of KaIispell, Susan Perry of Kalispell, Thomas Clark Perry and wife, Ann, of Richland, Wash., Janice Gifford and husband, Milton, of Cottage Grove, Ore., and Pamela Ann Kron and husband, Gordon, of Alaska; and his sister, Avis Ann Banz, and her daughter, Nancy Fox, and husband John of Kent, Wash. He is also survived by numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
Tom and Naomi have 26 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, an infant son and granddaughter.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 31, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1380 Whitefish Stage Road, in Kalispell. Burial services will be conducted at the Fairview Cemetery immediately following the funeral service. There will not be a viewing.
Johnson-Gloschat Funeral Home and Crematory is caring for Tom's family. You are invited to go to www.jgfuneralhome.com to offer condolences and sign Tom's guest book.