Thomas D. Newsham

Tommy Newsham passed to his heavenly reward on the morning of Monday, August 11, 2025, at the Baton Rouge Rehab Hospital. During his final month he was visited by old and dear friends and family at home, and at the hospital. He truly appreciated the time he was able to share love and special memories with all he deeply cared for. Nothing was more important than spending time with his family whether it was on camping trips from Scotland to Greece with his wife and his teenage daughters or just being at home. He continued traveling with his wife until health issues made it too difficult. His passion was always finding something new to study and to add to their many varied collections. These ranged from Baltimore stoneware to Aladdin lamps, to Chesapeake Bay decoys, to Roman and Greek artifacts and ancient coins, collected during their many assignments and travels. He never stopped reading whatever his current interest, and especially enjoyed talking with others with similar passions. Tommy always had a book of word puzzles along with a historical book to complete next to his chair. Being a true Louisianan, watching New Orleans Saints, LSU football and SEC football games on TV were one of his favorite ways to spend his weekend. Tommy was born to George D. Newsham and Levia Liddell Newsham in Baton Rouge, LA, on March 29, 1939. He was a 1957 graduate of Baton Rouge High School and earned a BS degree from LSU. He also held an MA degree from the University of Southern California and an MBA degree from Boston University. He served eight years in the Reserve and LA Army National Guard and over twenty-six years in the Regular Army serving in the Engineer Branch with two details to the General Staff. His Army career assignments took him to Germany, Vietnam, Belgium, The Netherlands, Korea, Turkey and several places in the US to include Ft. Leavenworth, Ft. Belvoir, New Orleans and the Pentagon. His last assignment was as the Deputy Commander to the Lower Mississippi Valley Engineer Division at Vicksburg, MS, where he retired in 1991. His decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star (2OLC), Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Army MSM Cross of Gallantry/Palm, and the Korean Defense Medal. He served with the 15th Combat Engineer Battalion, 9th Infantry Division in RVN from 1968-69. His most memorable Army experience was commanding a combat engineer company, of 180 great soldiers which made every day in the RVN a memorable experience. A very special trip for him was a return trip to Vietnam with fellow American military retires where they were able to meet former military from the South Vietnamese army as well as their former enemies from the north. After his Army service career he served as the Executive Director of the Red River Valley Association in Shreveport, LA, and Vice President of GEC, Inc. in Baton Rouge. Upon returning to his hometown of Baton Rouge, he first returned to his childhood church of St. Aloysius before moving to the parish of Most Blessed Sacrament Church. He was a member of The Society of American Engineers, Army Engineer Association, and Association of the U.S. Army 9th Infantry Div. Association, 15 Engr. Bn. Association, American Legion, Military Officers Association of America, VFW, Army Historical Association, D-Day Museum, The St. John Liddell Sons of the Confederacy and The Sons of the American Revolution. Tommy is survived by his wife of 66 years, his high school sweetheart, Shirley Bankston; daughters, Amy Murphy (Pete), Cathleen Newsham, and Jennifer Keeler (Dr. Tim Keeler); grandchildren, Blake Scroggs (Genny), Shelby Keeler Booth (Jason), Andrew Keeler (Theresa), Daisy Korpics, and Ruby Korpics; great-grandchildren, Sari, Uriah, Micah, and Ezra Scroggs; and brother, Edward Newsham. He is preceded in death by his mother, Levia Liddell Newsham; his father, George Dewey Newsham; and his brother, Liddell Newsham. Visitation will be at Greenoaks Funeral Home, 9595 Florida Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA, on Monday, August 18, 2025, from 12pm until the time of funeral services at 2pm. Burial will immediately follow at Greenoaks Memorial Park.