Tom Longfellow, LTC USA (Ret.)

Tom Longfellow, LTC USA (Ret.), age 81 of Gatesville, passed away on Thursday, December 7, 2023, in San Antonio.

Funeral services will be held at 12:00 p.m. noon, Thursday, December 14, 2023, at Scott’s Funeral Home Chapel in Gatesville, with Jack Hall officiating.  Interment will follow at 3:00 p.m. Thursday, with full military honors at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen.

Thomas J. Longfellow was born on July 26, 1942, in Richmond, Indiana to the late Everett and Katherine Close Longfellow. He graduated from Richmond High School in 1960. He later attended Purdue University but was drafted into the U.S. Army and sent to Vietnam. He spent twenty years in the military, ending his career at Fort Hood, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel.  After his retirement, he became a licensed real estate agent, with offices in Kileen and Copperas Cove. He bought a small ranch and started Wayside Kennels, a dog breeding and training facility just south of Copperas Cove. He showed his dogs all over the United States and won numerous national awards. He also judged dog shows and trained owners how to show their dogs. He was a horseman and owned numerous horses, which he loved to ride. Tom was known for his huge heart. While serving his Country in Vietnam, he attempted to adopt a child orphaned from the war. He loved his dogs and horses deeply and enjoyed cooking for his family and friends. In the words of his granddaughter, "Although very accomplished in his career, he was so much more than his title and rank in the military. He was a father and grandfather, a friend and ally to many. His greatest love just beyond those he held dear to him in his life, were undoubtedly his dogs and horses. "

He was preceded in death by his parents and a daughter, Erin Fulton.

Tom is survived by his children, Tom Longfellow, Jennifer Kuhn, Johnathan Sanders, William Rhoades, Nicole Damron; brother, John Longfellow; grandchildren, Brynn Fees, Lauren Fulton, Max Fulton, Sam Fulton, Jacob Fulton, Cory Lockhart-Nichols, Mariah Kuhn, Michael Sanders, Lorena Sanders, Elaine Sanders, Logan Nelson; great grandchildren, Carter Fees and Eislee Fees. His extended family, nephew, Shawn and niece, Tiffany; cousins, William Blair, Roger Blair, Max Close, Dana Mullins, Sherry McClain, Cathy Brunner and Jimmy Daggy. He is also survived by his former wife Melody, whom he continued to have a deep and caring relationship with and was with him until his last breath.