Thomas Lloyd Killough, 94, passed away peacefully on Friday, April 26, 2024. A long-time resident of Huntsville, AL, Mr. Killough was born on December 6, 1929, in Edinburg, Texas, the son of William Graham and Frances Creed Carter Killough.
As a teenager Tom discovered his love of all things flying and learned to fly from the crop-duster working on the family farm. Graduating from high school in Edinburg in 1946, Tom went on to gain a degree in Industrial Engineering from Texas Tech University. After a two-year tour of duty with the United States Air Force in Korea, Tom moved to Dallas and went to work as an aeronautical engineer for Vought Aeronautics. In 1961, Tom went to work for the Army Ballistic Missile Agency on Redstone Arsenal. He worked in the Aerodynamics Department until his retirement in 1993. After “retiring,” he continued to serve in the contracting community, and was with Dynetics for close to 20 years.
Tom continued his hobby of flying and was an active RC modeler – loving to build and fly both gliders and gas-engine planes. The family joke was that Tom could make the kitchen table fly if he thought about it long enough. He and Gail also loved to travel, seeing much of the United States and Europe. A favorite trip was around Cape Horn in South America. Annual family summer vacations were taken for decades at Emerald Isle, NC.
Tom is survived by his wife of 62 years, Gail; one son, Graham (Theresa) Killough of Huntsville; one daughter, Kathleen (Jeff) Palmer of Boise, ID; and two granddaughters, Lauren Killough of Mobile, AL and Sarah Palmer of Boise, ID. Tom was preceded in death by his parents and sole brother, William Frank Killough of Lyford, TX.
Visitation will be from 11 to 11:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 2, 2024, at First Christian Church. The funeral service will follow at the church with Rev. Dr. Cameron Douglas officiating. Internment will be at a later time.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Tunnels to Towers Gold Star Family Home Program, First Christian Church, or charity of your choice.
