Funeral Service
Schertz Funeral Home-
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2217 FM 3009
Schertz, TX 78154
1946
Thomas
2021
Thomas Elms
November 20, 1946 — June 6, 2021
Thomas Leonard Elms, age 74, lived and passed surrounded by family on June 6 th , 2021 in Cibolo, TX. He was born on November 20 th , 1946 in Newport, Arkansas.
He retired a Master Sargent from the Air Force in 1988 with 23.5 years of service. His Air Force career started with Teletype maintenance, then he moved on to flight simulator repair. His final job, what he enjoyed the most, was repairing medical equipment for the hospitals and clinics. He was awarded the following: Air Force Training Ribbon, Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal with Five Oak Leaf Clusters, Air Force Overseas Service Short Tour Ribbon with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Air Force Overseas Service Long Tour Medal, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with “V” Device Medal (Valor), Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross, Air Force Commendation Medal.
Tom continued his education by completing his bachelor’s in business from Southwest Texas and his MBA from Incarnate Word. He excelled in accounting, marketing, and economics.
He was an avid collector of vinyl records of jazz, blues, and rock n roll music. When he was stationed in Germany, he stayed in shape by running and later continued with walking/volksmarching everywhere he was. Tom also liked to travel, the Air Force sent him around the world, and he continued to explore the world with his wife, Linda.
Tom’s first marriage to Martha Campbell was from 1968 to 1983, and the union produced in his son Tommy and his daughter Heather.
Tom met his second wife, Linda Dodd in 1985 while attending evening college courses at the base, but it almost did not go any further. They chatted in a class they shared but she decided that she had heard enough of what the professor was saying and left the class and later dropped the course. Tom was enamored but did not know how to contact her. Using what means were available (before the expansive internet existed), Tom went through the white pages listings one by one hoping the initials, LHD would be the right number and it was! He asked her out and she said “No.” After one whole day, Linda decided that she did want to give this friendship a chance. This was also before caller ID and phones that stored numbers and names. So now she had to use what means were available to find his work phone number, because they both worked on the Air Force Base. She did and they started seeing each other more and more frequently. They were married less than a year later in 1986.
He is preceded in death by his father Thomas M. Elms and his mother Avis C. Elms.
He is survived by, his wife Linda Elms, his siblings Sherry Fulton and Debbie Ball, his son Tommy, his daughter Heather, stepsons Lance and Cary, and grandchildren Hanna, Easton, Kira, Linda, Ryan, Lancia, Penelope, and Fenton.
Tom lived his life on his own terms and left it the same way. We will miss him very much.
All friends and family are welcome for the funeral service viewing Saturday June 12 th , 2021 at 3:00 PM, at the Schertz Funeral Home located at 2217 Roy Richards Dr. (FM 3009) in Schertz, TX 78154.
In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations to the American Cancer Society (1-800-227-2345 or visiting the website).
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To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Thomas Elms, please visit our flower store.
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