Thomas W. Cecil

On Friday, April 12, LTC Thomas W. Cecil, loving husband and father, passed away at age 78.
Tom was born December 5, 1945, in Baltimore, MD, to Oscar and Ione Cecil. He graduated from Loyola High School in 1963, and attended Boston College on an ROTC scholarship, graduating in 1967 with bachelor’s degrees in both Physics and Math.

The scholarship obligated Tom to serve several years in the Army. His first tour of duty was in Germany, where he met the love of his life, Lile. They were married on April 25, 1970.

Tom made his career in the Army, serving with distinction for 23 years. He received numerous awards, including a Bronze Star for service during the Vietnam War, and several Meritorious Service Medals. He obtained a master’s degree in Operations Research from Florida Institute of Technology in 1975, and attended the Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth 1981-82. Tom also was an Army Ranger, an accomplishment of which he was especially proud. Rangers Lead The Way!

Tom said once that he never did anything for awards or recognition. He believed that a person should always do their best, no matter what. He applied himself as faithfully to his personal life as he did his work.

Anyone who met Tom learned a few things about him right way: He was madly in love with his wife, was proud of his children, and had a wickedly dry since of humor. His witty one-liners came quickly but quietly, so you had to listen carefully to catch his “zingers.” Tom loved to play cribbage and smoke the occasional cigar while enjoying a snifter of Basil Hayden.

One of his proudest personal accomplishments was being recognized as a master magician. He had the honor of being accepted into the Academy of Magical Arts and the International Brotherhood of Magicians. Other lesser-known facts about Tom: He was drum major while at Boston College; he played the accordion from an early age; and he became an ordained minister so that he could officiate a wedding for close friends.

Tom donated to several charities, including Tunnels to Towers. He was equally generous with his time, making friends and family feel important and cared for. It was commonly said that “Tom is just a good guy.”

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, and by his brother-in-law, Earl Morrison. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Lile; his four children, Claudia, Andreas (Katrin), Patricia (Joe), and Lexi (Michael); his brother, Bill (Mary Jo); his sister, Ann (Earl); his four grandchildren, Ariel, Blake (Berkeley), Casey and Jovanna; his nephews, Steve (Claire), Jeremy (Jo) and Tom (Jordan); and his nieces, Mandy (Chris) and Bonnie (Ryan).

Visitation will be at Lucas Funeral Home, Keller, TX on April 23rd, from 6-8pm, with a Rosary being said at 7pm. Mass will be celebrated at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Keller, TX the next morning at 10:30am, followed by a funeral service at 2pm at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, where Tom will be interred.

In lieu of sending flowers, please make a donation in Tom’s name to either Tunnels to Towers or the Wounded Warrior Project.