Tom Wade Brumfield Jr.

Tom Wade Brumfield, Jr. Lt. Col. USAF (ret), passed away November 15, 2025, at his home in College Station, Texas. A memorial service will be held at a later date with inurnment at the Aggie Field of Honor Wall Columbarium.

He was the second of six children born to Tom and Mary Elafair Taylor Brumfield in Houston, Texas. He was always very proud to say he graduated from the “old” Klein High School with the Class of ’52. He treasured the lifelong friendships that were shared with those childhood classmates.

Tom’s career path took him from his neighborhood of Recreation Acres to the “hallowed halls” of the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas, where he became a member of the Aggie Corp of Cadets. He was a Distinguished Military Graduate of Texas A&M. As a proud member of the class of ’56 “men who were tough as nails and hard as bricks”, he graduated on the 25th of May 1957, with a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Construction.

Following graduation, Tom married Cora Pauline “Polly” Dickerson on June 14, 1957, at Central Baptist Church in Baytown, Texas. He was the loving father of three cherished daughters, Kathy Ann, Mary Lynn and Susan Leigh.

After a brief stint with The Brown and Root Company in Houston, Texas, Tom began his lifetime dream to “fly” with the United States Air Force. His career in the Air Force included flying the T-34, T-37, T-33, H-19B, HH-43A, B and F model helicopters and the C-141 Starlifter aircraft. His assignments were in Texas, Georgia, Nevada, Arizona, New Jersey, Osan and Kunsan, Korea and Danang, Vietnam. Twice he participated in  United Nations missions. The first to Biak, New Guinea and the second to Palomares, Spain.

His military career was exemplary. He earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Airman’s Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Air Medal with 11 Oak Leaf Clusters.

In 1971, he returned to Texas A&M University under the military education program and earned the Master of Architecture Construction Management Degree. It was during that time that the groundwork for their family retirement was laid.

Following his retirement from the United States Air Force in 1979, he accepted a position as a Product Engineer with Howmet Turbine Components in Wichita Falls, Texas. The next career move he made was for him, a very bold one. He became an independent realtor for Dwayne Britton Real Estate in Burkburnett, Texas.

In the two years spent working in real estate he had the opportunity to join Rotary, and became an active community volunteer. In this role, he was a volunteer tutor in the adult literacy program and served on the Keep Burk Beautiful Committee. During this time he transitioned once again, to his next career as the Physical Plant Director for Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas, where he successfully worked until his full retirement in 1996.

In 1996, he returned to College Station to fulfill the retirement plan which began while he was here in 1971. Since then, he has spent may happy years working at their Buena Vista homeplace, traveling with family, enjoying Fightin’ Texas Aggie Football, Baseball, Softball, and Women’s Basketball. It was during the years when the Brumfield family “tailgated” that he met a group of “Young Ags” who embodied the true Aggie core values of respect, excellence, leadership, loyalty, integrity and selfless service. They put a lasting stamp on his heart.

Tom was a lifetime member of the Military Officer’s Association, the Air Force Association, the USAF Helicopter Pilots Association, the Vietnam Pilots Association, NRA, TAMU Former Student’s Association, 12th Man Foundation, and a Paul Harris Fellow in Rotary.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father, his sisters Twilia Mary Brumfield and Theola Yarbrough, his brothers Terry Lee and Troy Edwin Brumfield and his three sisters-in-law Gradys Elaine Dickerson Kirkland, Elizabeth Louise Dickerson Pierce and Sandra Dickerson Kirby.

Tom took great pride in his family and is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Polly, three daughters and sons-in-law, Kathy Ann and Robert Norwood, Mary Lynn and Tom DeGreve, Susan Leigh Allen and Glen Caldwell and brother in-law Eddie Kirby. He is also survived by a young man who he chose to call his “God Son”, Paul Britton.

He felt especially blessed by his gift of grandchildren, Patrick and wife Kelley Norwood, Ashley and husband Jeremiah Woodford, Amber and husband Anton Dewer, Courtney and Morgan Allen, Jade Caldwell, Jessica and husband James Williams and Evan DeGreve.

Adding greatly to his life’s joy are eight great-grandchildren, Aidan Laughlin, Evie Anabel Lee Norwood/Woodford, Atticus and Maribella Woodford, Landon James and Genesis Leigh Norwood, Nolan James and Ellie Blair Williams.

He is also survived by sister, Thadalene Joyce Porras and brother-in-law Thad Yarbrough. He leaves a multitude of life memories with many nieces, nephews and family friends.

Retirement for Tom was never dull nor boring. His monthly lunch with the locals of the Class of ’56 was always a highlight on his social calendar. He loved taking care of their Buena Vista farm, communing with the wildlife and enjoying life in general. He followed whatever Polly planned for their family travels and was “always the designated driver”. Time spent with his children, “grands” and “greats” was very special to him.

As a family we in turn, were blessed by his quiet presence and his enduring strength and character.

 YEE HAH POPPIE, YEE HAH.