Oh!   I have slipped the surly bonds of Earth
And danced the skies on laughter-silvered wings,
Sunward I've climbed
and joined the tumbling mirth of sun-split clouds
And done a hundred things you have never dreamed of,
wheeled and soared and swung high in the sunlit silence.
Hovering there, I've chased the shouting wind along
and flung my eager craft through footless halls of air -
Up, up in the long delirious burning blue
I've topped the wind-swept heights with easy grace
where never lark or even eagle flew
in the high untrespassed sanctity of space.
And while with silent, lifting mind I've trod,
Put out my hand and touched the face of God.
- John Gillespie Magee -

Thomas A. Weppler, Jr., 82, of Delanson, NY, died on January 30, 2007 after a long illness with bone cancer.   Tom endured his illness with the same quiet dignity and fortitude with which he lived his life.

Born on May 7, 1924 in NY, NY, he was the son of the late Elizabeth P. Mullins and Thomas A. Weppler, Sr.   He was predeceased by his grandparents, Lena Muller and Ludwig Weppler, immigrants from Germany; and Margaret Coughlan and John Mullins, immigrants from Ireland.  He was also predeceased by his Godparents Catherine Mullins Clifford and Charles Weppler.

During his early years, Tom lived in Manhattan, the Bronx, Rego Park, Forest Hills and Kew Garden Hills, NY.

After graduating from Newtown High School in Elmhurst, NY, Tom enlisted in the Army Air Force and served from 1942 to 1945.  He had Radio Operator and Mechanic Training at Sioux Falls AFB in SD; graduated as an Aerial Gunner from Gunnery School at Laredo AFB in TX; then graduated from Navigator Bombardier School at Midland AFB in TX.  During this period he attended Norwich University in Northfield, VT, and completed Army Air Force College Training there in 1944.

He was honorably discharged in 1945 as 2^nd Lieutenant, Navigator Bombardier, and received the WWII Victory Medal and American Campaign Medal.

In 1949 he graduated from New York University in the Bronx, NY with a Bachelor of Aeronautical Engineering degree. After graduation Tom enlisted in the United States Air Force and received Basic Pilot Training at Randolph AFB in San Antonio, TX.  He became a Pilot in 1950 and went to Williams AFB in Phoenix, AZ for Advanced Pilot Training, where he graduated as a Jet Fighter Pilot, Class 50F.  At Nellis AFB in Las Vegas, NV, Tom had Gunnery and Jet Aircraft Training.

Tom was stationed at Tsuiki AFB in Japan and Suwan AFB in Korea for 2 years.  He flew 126 combat missions in an F-80 Shooting Star with the 51^st Interceptor Wing. 

When he came back to the U.S., Tom was stationed at Otis AFB in Falmouth, MA where he was an Engineering Officer testing planes.  He was honorably discharged from the USAF in 1952 after achieving the rank of Captain and being awarded the Korean Service Medal, Air Medal with 2 oak leaf clusters and the Distinguished Flying Cross.  

Tom received the Distinguished Flying Cross for displaying outstanding skill and airmanship ability, and for showing high personal courage and devotion to duty.  During one particular mission, after expending all of his ammunition, Tom continued to make additional passes over enemy territory in order to draw fire away from other members of his squadron.

After his military career, Tom was an Aeronautical Engineer for Grumman Aircraft Corporation in Bethpage, NY.  He was a Commercial Pilot in the Long Island area and enjoyed taking his family for plane rides.  Tom was an accomplished bowler and as a member of the Grumman Grey League he registered several “300” games.  He was an avid golfer, photographer, skier and gymnast.  In his earlier days he was Catcher and Manager for the Hilltops baseball team and ran track for Newtown High School where he specialized in the 100 yard dash.

Tom traveled extensively throughout the US over the years, then spent his retirement years in Delanson, NY, where he cared for his invalid mother until her death at the age of 99.  He was a genealogical contributor for the Weppler Family History which was published in 1998, and a member of The Friends of the Active Battalion, 69^th Infantry (The Fighting 69^th).  He was a financial contributor to the 69^th Regiment Armory in New York City as a memorial tribute to his late grandfather, Sergeant John F. Mullins, who was Armorer there from 1900 to 1927.

Tom was a big fan of the NY Yankees and NY Knicks, and spent many happy days at Saratoga and Belmont Racetracks with his nephew Kevin.  He enjoyed life in the country and being surrounded by the beauty of upstate NY.  He fed wild birds and helped care for family cats Sophie, Gizmo, Dewey, Basil and Kippy.

Tom Weppler was an American hero and a hero to his family, who thought of him as their “Shooting Star” and who will miss him very much.  He was the admired uncle of Patricia L. Weppler and Kevin M. Kaczmarek, both of Delanson, NY; the cherished brother-in-law of Pat Weppler of Delanson, NY; and Godfather to John Winters of Staunton, VA.  He was predeceased by his devoted brother, Lawrence R. Weppler, who died in 1992.