October 04 1931 December 01 2019
Tommie Lewis Skipper October 04, 1931 – December 01, 2019 Share this obituary Send Sympathy Gifts Sign Guestbook| View Guestbook Entries| Send Sympathy Card| Memorial Donation Tommie Lewis Skipper, 88, died December 1, 2019 in Harper, TX. He was born October 4, 1931 in McKenzie, AL to Thomas Nathaniel Skipper and Vinnie Leal Spence Skipper. He joined the United States Air Force on June 1, 1950 and while stationed at Bergstom Air Force Base in Austin, TX met the love of his life, Geraldine Bierschwale. They married June 1, 1953 As manager of many Air Force commissaries during his successful military career, Tommie made sure his family could join him at his various duty stations in the United States and overseas including Japan, Greece and Turkey. His family made the most of their time abroad. While living in Greece, he purchased a boat so they could all enjoy the beautiful waters of the Mediterranean Sea, and joined the Rod & Gun Club so his sons could hunt in the mountains of Turkey. The Skipper family made many life-long friends during their travels around the world. After retiring from the Air Force in 1971 at the rank of Master Sergeant, Tommie adopted Geraldine’s hometown of Harper, TX as his own. He threw himself into helping the Harper School where all his children were taught, and he ultimately became school board president. He was a member of the American Legion, the Harper Lions Club, the Harper Volunteer Fire Department, a founding member of the Gillespie County Board of Realtors, chair of the Gillespie County Democratic Party and a member of the Fredericksburg Memorial Hospital board of directors. While serving in Tokyo, Japan in 1957, Tommie became a charter member of the Kunitachi Masonic Center Lodge Number 3. Tommie accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior, and served as Sunday school teacher and superintendent at his base chapel during his tour of duty in Greece. In Texas, he was a proud member of the Harper Methodist Church, where he enjoyed caring for the church grounds, was involved in the renovation of the church and helped build the fellowship hall behind the church. He owned Skipper Realty from 1971 until his passing, and helped many families realize their dream of owning a piece of the beautiful Texas Hill Country. Tommie lived his life to the fullest and was most proud of his family. An active grandfather, Tommie always enjoyed having his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren visit his home in Harper, where he taught them how to drive, hunt, play baseball and golf, and love the Lord. Tommie is preceded in death by his parents Thomas Nathaniel and Vinnie Leal Skipper; his sisters Essie Worshum and Addie Ruth Mitchell; his brothers Andrew Vernon, Lehman David, and Samuel Lavaughn Skipper. He is survived by his loving wife and constant companion, Geraldine; sister Callie Fay Terry of North Carolina; children Leal Skipper Franke and husband Eric, son David Skipper, and son Steven Skipper and wife, Kim; six grandchildren – Ray Armstrong and wife Brittany, Steven Armstrong and wife Stephanie, Tara Armstrong-Trent and husband Paul, Scott Armstrong and wife Andrea, Kriston Ramirez, and Haylee Skipper; eight great-grandchildren – Tommie Armstrong, Ian Armstrong, MacKenzie Armstrong, Avi Ramirez, Scott Trent, Katherine Trent, Emily Armstrong, and Harper Armstrong; and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation will take place on Friday December 6, 2019 in the Fredericksburg Funeral Home from 4:00p.m. – 6:00p.m. Funeral Services will be on Saturday December 7, 2019 in the Harper United Methodist Church at 1:00p.m. with interment to follow in the Harper Community Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Harper United Methodist Church, Harper HELP Center, Harper Community Cemetery. SERVICES Visitation Friday, December 06, 2019 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM Fredericksburg Funeral Home 2278 South Highway 87 Fredericksburg, Texas 78624 Get Directions on Google Maps Funeral Service Saturday, December 07, 2019 1:00 PM Harper United Methodist Church 23305 US Hwy 290 Harper, TX 78631 Get Directions on Google Maps Print Obituary Sign Guestbook Name: Location: Video: Image: Light A Candle Candle 1 Candle 2 Candle 3 Candle 4 Email: Please keep my message private Personal Message: Personal Message (required) Confirm: Submit Guestbook entry
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Tommie Lewis Skipper October 04 1931 December 01 2019.
Death notice for the town of: Fredericksburg, state: Texas