Colonel Thomas A. Stout, Sr., USAF Retired, slipped the surly bonds of earth on Saturday, July 11, 2026, with his loving wife of 75 years, Kitty, by his side. Tom was born in New Orleans to shipbuilder Arthur W. Stout and Wilhelmina E. Dufresne. The family lived briefly in Houston before settling in the greater New York City area. He attended Dwight School for Boys on Park Avenue and lived at the Waldorf Astoria, later graduated high school in Tenafly, New Jersey.

After high school, Tom enlisted in the United States Air Force and married his childhood sweetheart, the beautiful Catherine Madrienne (Kitty) Brown. Together they embraced the military life whole heartedly, moving 24 times in 27 years and having their three children in three different places. As a B-47 and later B-52 pilot Tom earned a coveted Command Pilot rating as well as numerous awards and decorations, including the Legion of Merit. He rose quickly through the ranks from Airman No Class to Colonel and was selected to travel on the first American Air Force team to Communist China after President Nixon opened trade. His most proud accomplishment was to serve as lead Air Force negotiator with the Soviet Air Force in the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT) to eliminate or reduce the number of nuclear weapons in the world. Tom converted to Catholicism after he survived a tragic B-52 crash in Utah where five of his fellow crew members perished. Also during his military career, Tom earned a Bachelor’s degree and two Masters’. 

After retiring from the Air Force, Tom and Kitty settled in Mobile, Alabama. They worked in various areas for the Archdiocese of Mobile, including marriage counseling and public affairs. Tom, along with his son Tom, Jr., founded Video One Teleproductions to produce videos, tv commercials and televised Mass for the Homebound. Photography was a long-time hobby of Tom’s. He was a life-long learner and early adopter of technology. Once he got things figured out, he was ready to move on to explore something new. 

After turning the video production business over to his son, Tom and Kitty moved to Charter Club in Palm City. Never one to really retire, he continued his love of aviation, his hobby of computers (known to some as Mr. Mac) and his philosophizing with other retired men at Panera Bread. Tom was also a fixture at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, tapping his feet and hands to Mickey Maniscalco and the band’s uplifting music. Tom spent his final 20 months at Palm City Nursing and Rehab where he received excellent care from the loving staff. 

He is survived by his wife Kitty, daughters Christine Thomas (Michael) of Greeley, CO and Catherine Madrienne Crow (Clifford Patrick) of Palm City and grandson Dorian Thomas, of Los Angeles. He is preceded in death by his parents, his beloved “sonny boy”, Tom Stout Jr.; his sister, MaryJane Zwiener, his brother, Arthur Stout, a niece and a nephew; many dear friends and colleagues from his long life; and his lost crew members. 

Visitation will take place from 4 to 6 pm on Wednesday July 22nd, at Forrest Hills Memorial Chapel. 

Father John Kasperek will celebrate a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 am on Thursday July 23rd at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Palm City. 

Military Honors and Committal ceremony will be held on Monday August 24th at South Florida Veterans Cemetery, Lake Worth Florida. 

Donations in Colonel Stout’s honor may be made to Wounded Veterans Relief Fund, 300 Prosperity Farms Road, North Palm Beach, FL 33408.