Begley, U.S. Army Ret., Col Thomas Frederick

Col. Thomas Frederick Begley, U.S. Army retired, age 84, died Saturday, October 21, 2006, in his beloved State of Michigan. The son of Harold and Ruth (Bailey) Begley, he was born in Muskegon Heights on May 6, 1922. He had graduated from Muskegon Heights High School in 1940 as salutatorian and class president. He received his B.A. in Business Administration from Michigan State University; an M.B.A. in Transportation from the University of Washington; and achieved the Academic Excellence Award from both the Army Command and General Staff College and Industrial College of the Armed Forces. He served as Lieutenant in the Quartermasters Corp. during World War II and was a Rifle Company Commander with the 1st Cavalry Division during the Korean War. Col. Begley's 31 year military career was capped off with a position on the Joint Chiefs of Staff and at the Office of the Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon, retiring with honors in 1972. After retiring from the Army, he started a second career with the Los Angeles County School Board where he served for 15 years before returning to Muskegon to care for his mother. He was a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars, Muskegon County Genealogical Society and the Muskegon History Committee. Tom was a devoted member of Central United Methodist Church. SURVIVORS: siblings, Phillip Begley and Harriett Sheetz; former wife, Eleanor Begley Bowden; daughters, Luanne Williams, Paula C. Vaagen, Phyllis Bookbinder and June Begley; sons, William Begley and Alan Begley; 10 grandchildren, 1 great-grandchild and a host of other adopted dear friends and loved ones. He was also preceded in death by: sisters, Ellen Campbell and Doris Grover and his dear friend and companion, Flora Mason Johnson. SERVICES: Monday, October 30, 2006, 11 A.M. at Central United Methodist Church, 1011 Second St., Muskegon, MI 49440, Rev. Dr. Randall Hansen and Chaplain Jan Johnson presiding. INTERMENT: To follow at Restlawn Cemetery with Military Rites under the auspices of the U.S. Army Honor Guard and the Muskegon County Council of Veterans. VISITATION: Sunday 5-7 P.M. at the Lee Funeral Home. MEMORIAL: Central United Methodist Church or the Blue Lake Public Radio.