Thomas M. Kirton

"I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die." -John 11:25

Thomas Myron Kirton was born in Daytona Beach, Florida, and passed away on January 25, 2025. Affectionately known by his younger siblings as "Tommy," he is the eldest of eight children born to Juanita and Myron Kirton. As the son of a cattleman, Tommy grew up on a dairy farm on Tomoka Farms Road during the Golden Age of the 1950s. He enjoyed all the imaginable cowboy, rascal adventures that an active, large family had to offer- not to mention his mother's and sisters' country cooking.

Tom would go on to discover many special interests including aviation, art, history, science and humanities- but it was his love of reading he discovered first. In elementary school, he enjoyed reading science fiction best. In time, Tom dreamt of becoming a soldier, and in 1965, he graduated from North Georgia Military College and enlisted in the US Army as a second lieutenant during the Vietnam War.

Following his service in the Vietnam War, Tom, affectionately known by colleagues as "TK", began his distinguished career as a flight instructor at Embry-Riddle in 1976. The majority of his illustrious career was spent in Aeronautical Science on the Daytona Beach campus.  He earned multiple graduate degrees at Embry-Riddle, was promoted to Professor in 2003, and was granted Emeritus status in 2021. One of his beloved students wrote of him, "He is the reason people succeed in all they do. Always positive and will never give up on anyone. He helped me more than anyone can imagine… Easiest man I could ever talk to and the most caring soul I've ever met."

Tom met the love of his life, Pat, at age 45 and they went on to be married for 36 years. Together they raised one daughter, Jessica, and cherished three grandchildren: Emma, Miah, and Faith. He was a consummate storyteller in the classroom and with his family. His granddaughters were riveted by his stories about anything from Vietnam, history and especially growing up on a dairy. Above all he loved his family. He adored his wife and cherished his daughter, granddaughters, and son-in-law.

Tom a.k.a. "Popi" was a history buff, science enthusiast, and animal lover. There was little he couldn't tell you about ancient Roman societies or the latest scientific research on Health and Science. One of his greatest passions was travel. He traveled extensively with family, friends and Embry Riddle throughout the United States, Europe and around the world.

Tom will be remembered as a kind, caring, loving man and will be missed more than words can say. His spirit of intractable optimism will live on in the hearts of his surviving relatives including his wife, Pat, daughter and son-in-law, Jessica and Thomas Percival, grandchildren Emma, Miah, and Faith, his siblings and their spouses, Kay and Junior, Krys and Steve, Dottie and Alan and Bill and Joyce.

A memorial service will be held at CrossRoads Church, 1851 S. Clyde Morris Blvd, Daytona Beach at 1pm on March 1, 2025.