On Wednesday, April 9, 2025, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas F. Fitzpatrick, United States Air Force, Retired, 83, of Warrensburg, Missouri passed away peacefully at his home.

Tom was born in Brooklyn, New York, on June 26, 1941. He attended Xavier High School in New York City and graduated from Fairfield University, Connecticut, in 1964 with a Bachelors of Arts degree in History. In 1978 he earned his Master of Science in Public Services and Safety from Central Missouri State University.

Enlisting in the Air Force in April 1965, Lt. Col. Fitzpatrick was first assigned to Grand Forks, North Dakota, Office of Information where he served primarily as a writing historian for the 319th Bombardment Wing and the 321st Strategic Missile Wing.

Commissioned as a distinguished graduate of Officers Training School, Medina AFB, Texas, in November 1966, he served as the Deputy Director of Information for 19th Air Force, Seymour-Johnson AFB, North Carolina from December 1966 through June 1967. He then became the director of information for the 1st Fighter Wing of Selfridge AFB, Michigan. Director of Corporate Communications for Strategic Air Command (SAC) at Offutt AFB until he retired.

While in the military, Lt. Col. Fitzpatrick attended the Defense Information School, Fort Slocum, New York, in 1965; Air Force Graduate Studies Course in Public Communications at the University of Oklahoma in 1972; Squadron Officer School at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, in 1973; completed Air Command & Staff College by correspondence in 1977; and National Sec Management in 1982.

Transferred to the Far East in October 1968, Lt. Col. Fitzpatrick became the Director of Information for the 327th Air Division, Taipei Air Station, Taiwan, and Chief Air Spokesman for Air Force Activities. In 1971, he was assigned to Headquarters, Aerospace Defense Command, Peterson AFB, Colorado, where he served as the Deputy Chief of the Public Information Division, the Chief of Internal Information Division, Special Assistant to the Director of Information for Social Actions Activities, and finally as the Chief of the Community Relations Division. In addition, he co-founded and directed the activities of the Aerospace Defense Command Headquarters Human Relations Traveling Team which evaluated the human relations climate within the Command. In Turkey, he was the Director of Public Relations for multinational organization and the National Director of Public Relations for Humanitarian-Emergency Services Organization, the Civil Air Patrol.

In 1974 he volunteered for a career broadening assignment with the 351st Strategic Missile Wing, Whiteman AFB, Missouri. While at Whiteman, he served as a Missile Combat Crew Commander, Flight Commander for the Alternate Command Post, and as an Aircraft/Missile Officer Controller in the Wing Command Post.

Lt. Col. Fitzpatrick's awards in decorations include the defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Air Force Commendation Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Force Outstanding Unit award with one oak leaf cluster, Air Force Organizational Excellence Award with one oak leaf cluster, Combat Readiness Medal, Air Force Good Conduct Medal Service Medal, Air Force Overseas Short Tour Ribbon, Air Force Overseas Long Tour Ribbon, Air Force longevity service award with four oak leaf clusters, Small Arms Expert Pistol Ribbon, and Air Force Training Ribbon.

As the Director of Corporate Communications for SAC, one of Lt. Col. Fitzpatrick's proudest accomplishments was producing the Strategic Air Command's 40th Anniversary film within the three-week deadline. Narrated by Charlton Heston, the focus of the film was on people and mission. The production was used by the Air Force worldwide and was imitated by 30 organizations.

During Officer Training School he met his future wife and on September 9, 1967, Second Lieutenants Tom and Joan were united in marriage. Over their 50 years of marriage, they raised three children, and an assortment of dogs, cats, and horses during assignments in Michigan, Taiwan, Colorado, Missouri, Alabama, Turkey, and Nebraska.

After Tom retired from the Air Force, the family returned to their Spring Ridge home in Warrensburg. During this time, he was Assistant Director of Public Relations for Central Missouri State University, Agent & Broker for Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company, and retired as the Director of Public Affairs for Wentworth Military Academy.

Tom and Joan wholeheartedly believed in the sanctity of life. Throughout their marriage, they devoted time, energy and resources to founding, sustaining, and reviving New Beginnings Women's Center in Warrensburg, and were advocates at the state level for Missouri Right to Life. Additionally, he was a parishioner at Sacred Heart for over 40 years, Fourth Degree in the Knights of Columbus, and Lifetime Member of the American Legion.

Tom was passionate about politics and was actively engaged at the local, state, and national levels. He served on former Representative Vicky Hartzler's Military Advisory Committee and Lt. Col. Tony Monetti's, USAF, Retired, 2017-2018 U.S. Senate Campaign Advisory Committee.

He was preceded in death by his wife, parents, grandparents, and in-laws. Tom will be missed by his children, daughter Jeni, granddaughter Jia Li, and Jeni's husband Matt; daughter Katie and her husband Cody; Michael; brother, niece, nephew, cousins, and extended family members; and countless friends across the globe.

We pray for his Eternal Rest in Heaven with God and His Son Jesus, and we believe we will see him again for all Eternity.

Visitation is scheduled for Wednesday, April 16, at 10:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m., at Sacred Heart, 300 South Ridgeview Drive, Warrensburg, Missouri. Immediately followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:15 a.m. Interment will be on Wednesday, April 16, at 2:00 p.m. at the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery, 20109 Business Hwy. 13, Higginsville, Missouri.

In lieu of flowers, please make memorial donations to either New Beginnings Women's Center, Old Drum Animal Shelter, or U.S. Air Force Public Affairs Association, in care of Williams Funeral Chapel, 1400 South Maguire Street, Warrensburg, MO 64093-8627.