Thomas Earl Umpenhour

Thomas Earl Umpenhour, born on March 25, 1961, passed away on September 1, 2024, at the age of 63.

A resident of Daytona Beach, Thomas was a man of many talents and great intelligence. He earned his associate’s degree in electrical engineering from Dutchess Community College in New York, reflecting his deep love for understanding how things work.

He was a force to be reckoned with as a black belt in karate and a talented drummer. He was also a licensed Ham radio operator and a lover of classic TV shows and movies, with MASH* and Top Gun being among his favorites. If you were looking for Thomas, you looked for the guy wearing headphones or tuning into the nearest radio. He was strong in his Faith, serving as a member of the Community of the Cross in Danbury, Connecticut.

He is survived by his parents, Alice and John; three brothers, John, Scott, and Charley; and three sisters-in-law, Christy, Donna, and Tracy. As the oldest sibling, he shared many cherished moments with his family, acting as the ‘cool uncle’ to his nieces, Tara, Lauren, Savannah, Hannah, and Briana, and nephews, Joshua, Jeffery, Michael, Gabe, Tristan, and Symeon.

Thomas faced his share of personal challenges, experiencing the first onset of schizophrenia at the early age of 18. While he battled his mental illness from his teens until his passing, the disease never stopped him from being a bright light to many. No matter where he’d go or who he’d meet, Thomas was the man to open his heart, always asking how others were and rarely ever spotlighting himself, much less his own hardships and tribulations.

His selflessness and genuine love for people shined through even in his later days. In the skilled nursing home where he resided, Thomas was ‘mayor’ of their community making rounds daily to assist residents with turning their televisions on at the start of the day and socializing with everyone who walked through those front doors. While his disease very well could’ve defined him, or even overtook him, it didn’t…and that’s a powerful thing.

Thomas remains a beloved and integral member of his family and community, leaving behind memories of his kind spirit, quick wit, and resilient nature. He will be deeply missed by those who knew him, and his memory will be cherished forever by his family and friends.

John 3:16: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life".