Thomas Warren Deering
387th Bomb Group

Thomas Warren Deering
December 30, 1920 - August 12, 2015
Lt Colonel USAF Retired

December 30, 1920, Thomas was born in West Frankfort, Illinois to Thomas E. Deering and Magdalene Helfrich Deering.

The family moved to Indianapolis in his youth. He graduated from Shortridge High School. He married his high school sweetheart Joan F Downs on July 18th 1941 to whom he was married for 62 years until her death Feb. 13, 2004.

After the start of WW II, he joined the Army Air Corp as an aviation cadet in March of 1942 and successfully graduated as a pilot and 2nd Lt.

From Feb. 1943 to Nov. 1944 he served in England as part of the Air Offensive Europe flying B 26 missions over Northern France and Normandy both before and after D-Day as part of the 387th Bomb Group.

Subsequent to his war duty he returned to Indianapolis and attended Butler University graduating with honors in 1949. From 1949 to June 1953 he worked in the private sector as an accountant all the while serving int he Air Force Reserve. when the Korean War started he was called back to active duty and flew 50 missions in the B 26 from Jan. 1953 to Aug. 1953. He decided to stay in the Air Force on active duty until retirement on Nov. 1st, 1969. Thomas served in various capacities including piloting Air Med Evac and para troop missions. He finished his career as squadron commander for air traffic control at numerous bases in the US and Europe.

He had a great love of flying and was dedicated to doing things the right and honorable way. The other great love in his life after wife Joan was the game of golf which he vigorously pursued in retirement.

He was preceded in death by his parents as well as his step mother Elizabeth Deering, and sister Shirley Moore.

He is survived by daughter Rita M. (Ron) Webber and sons Jerry L. (Karen) Deering, Thomas W. (Linda) Deering, Steven (Clarrissa) Deering and sister Betty Jane and seven grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

Funeral Information

Funeral Services for Thomas Warren Deering

A public visitation for Mr. Deering will be held on Saturday, August 15th from 11-12 pm at Crown Hill Funeral Home., service will begin at 12 noon. He will be laid to rest at Crown Hill Cemetery with Air Force Honors.