Thomas J Friddell

July 27, 1939 - September 24, 2026

Our family has welcomed and continues to cherish the prayers and encouragement from you since our father joined his Father in Heaven. We share his story with you.

Tommy attended public schools in Hamilton County, Tennessee, where he graduated from Tyner High School (1957). Tom earned his Eagle Scout in the summer before entering Tennessee Technological University (1960) in Cookeville. Pursuing two degrees through a six-year program in conjunction with the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (1963), Tom moved to Memphis where he met and married his lifelong love, Vera. Dad and Mom had a son, and both earned their academic degrees 18 months after marriage. Dr. Friddell then moved his family to Atlanta, where three became four with the arrival of a daughter, and he completed his residency at Grady Memorial Hospital, Emory University School of Medicine (1965). Moving to Nashville, his family of four grew to five with the birth of another son, and Dr. Friddell joined the nascent Metropolitan Nashville Department of Public Health.

Upon completing his service in Public Health, Dr. Friddell joined the Donelson Clinic and later established a private practice at the same intersection of Donelson Pike and Lebanon Road, where he treated patients for more than 50 years. Dr. Friddell, with others in the Donelson/Hermitage medical community, was instrumental in founding Donelson Hospital and in extending hospital level care to west Wilson County at Summit Medical Center. His interest in aviation led him to join the Donelson Rotary Club, then the sponsor of the Nashville Air Show at Berry Field. He was a pilot, who counted many other pilots, flight attendants and air-traffic controllers as his patients. Tom was an active Rotarian, serving as one of the club's presidents during the period of planning and developing the Rotary field ballparks in Hermitage. Proud to be Eagle Scout, Tom was and Assistant Scoutmaster with Troop 30 in Donelson and a fundraise for the Middle Tennessee Council of the Boy Scouts of America. Many Eagle Scouts, including two grandsons, earned their First Aid Merit Badge from Dr. Friddell. Scouting fulfilled Dad's love of outdoors, particularly backpacking and hiking, and provided him opportunities to share the values of God, family, community and county he exemplified. Living those values, he was an active member of Donelson Church of Christ, through which he provided medical care in mission work.

Dr. Friddell loved caring for patients and serving his community. Greater than that love was his passion for family. Dad was always present for us as children, giving us love, showing a firm hand when needed, and taking care of all our needs as he guided us to adulthood; Uncle Tommy helped his extended family with his presence, his medical advice, and a calm voice of reason and wisdom; and Pop, his favorite identity, was the fun, adventurous, loving grandfather and great-grandfather everyone should have. Each summer, Pop and Nonnie, as Mom is known, hosted Grandparents' Camp at their home. Swimming in the pool, shooting B&B guns and arrows, camping in the field behind the house, or playing basketball in the driveway, Pop created ties between his seven grandchildren, along with memories and tales for them and his great-grandchildren that will survive long beyond those of us reading this story.

After retiring, Pop enjoyed spending time with family and friends; walking, logging more than 100 miles a month during most years of his final decade; reading, often tackling three or more books at a time; traveling, visiting the Holy Lands and dozens of National Parks and historical sites; attending sports events; and growing tomatoes at his and Mom's home in Hermitage. Five generations of our family and scores of family friends celebrated birthdays, weddings, holidays, and other special occasions at their home. Whether you call them Tommy and Vera Sue, Tom and Vera, Dad and Mom, Uncle Tommy and Aunt Susie, Dr. Friddell and Miss Vera, or Pop and Nonnie, they loved and shared joy with everyone who visited.

Tom is survived by his wife of sixty-four years,Vera Sue (Van Eaton) Friddell; their children, Jay (Colleen) Friddell, Johnna (Steve) Marbut, and Joel (Kim Hayes) Friddell; their grandchildren, Cristen (Connor) Haddock, Nick Friddell, Julia (Wil) Heidorn, J.T. (Rebecca) Marbut, Trevor Marbut, Max Friddell, Ben (Darian) Friddell; their great-grandchildren, Scarlett Haddock, Ross Haddock and Hazel Mae Heidorn; his sister, Lynda (Friddell) Wilburn; and dozens of nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews, cousins and other extended family members. Tommy was preceded in death by his parents, C.J. "Buck" and Zella Friddell, his sters Billie and Pam, and his brother, Charles.

A Celebration of LIfe is scheduled for October 17, 2026 at Donelson Church of Christ, 2706 Old Lebanon Road, Nashville, TN, 37214. A brief visitation with the family will begin at 10:00 a.m. with a memorial service to follow. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to Donelson Church of Christ (donelsonchurch.org/giving/) or to St.Jude Children's Research Hospital (stjude.org/donate).