Thomas “Tom” Hugh Mowell, 87, of Orange County, FL and Union County, GA, left this world peacefully in the early morning hours of October 15th to be in the presence of his Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. What he once knew by faith, he now knows by sight. His family members were privileged to sing, read scripture, cry and pray with him during his final hours on earth. He left this world knowing how very loved he was and assured of his eternity in Heaven. Tom was born on April 26th, 1931 in Newark, OH, to the late Donald Hugh Mowell and Mable Velma Burdick. His early years growing up were spent in Washington, PA, and his elementary and high school years in Warren, PA. He enjoyed playing basketball, ice skating, cross-country skiing and spending time with family especially during the summers on Lake Erie. On August 15, 1950, he enlisted in the US Air Force and served his country in the Korean War in the 5th Communications Group. After his discharge in 1954, he attended Florida State University where he met the love of his life, Barbara Lee. They were married on December 31, 1958. Their first year of marriage was spent in Antigua West Indies where he tracked re-entries for the NASA as one of the first people to work in the newly developed field of telemetry. Following their return to the United States, they lived in Naples, FL, where their home was ultimately destroyed by Hurricane Donna in 1960. After a couple of relocations, they ended up in Satellite Beach, FL where Tom worked at Cape Canaveral on the Apollo Missions. This is also where his daughter and son were born. In 1970, the family moved to Orlando, FL, where Tom & Barbara still have a home. Tom worked in the defense industry the remainder of his career. After vacationing many times and growing to love the mountains of N. Georgia over the years, Tom decided to build a second home in Union County, GA, in 2004. His daughter Laura relocated to Union County in late 2007 and he and Barbara have since enjoyed splitting the years spending time in both Georgia and Florida. Tom loved his family and enjoyed spending time with them more than anything. He was a faithful and loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He also loved the many dogs and cats he had as pets over the years. But more than anything, Tom loved Jesus Christ with all his heart, soul and spirit. He spent time faithfully daily in God’s word in inductive Bible study seeking to know God’s heart. One of the highlights of his life was the trip he and Barbara took to Israel in 1998 with Precept Ministries.
Tom was preceded in death by his younger brother Warren Richard “Dick” Mowell. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Barbara Ann Lee Mowell, his older sister Patricia Mowell Wymond, his daughter Laura of Blairsville, GA, his son David and wife Paula of Orlando, FL, and his grandchildren Lina, Shelby and Austin and 3 great grandchildren all of Orlando, FL, and his beloved “grand-dogs” Lia and Chip.
A celebration of Tom’s life will take place Tuesday, October 23rd at 5:30 pm at First Baptist Church Blairsville in the rock chapel. The family will be available for visitation at 5pm prior to the service. Interment will take place Wednesday October 24th at 11 am sharp at the Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, GA, with full military honors. A celebration of life service will also be held in the Orlando area on a later date to be announced.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be given in memory of Thomas Mowell to the following ministries: Truth for Life, https://www.truthforlife.org/donate/ , P.O. Box 398000, Cleveland, OH 44139; Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM), https://www.rzim.org/give , 3755 Mansell Rd, Alpharetta, GA 30022; and Precept Ministries International, https://give.precept.org/?&utm_source=PMI_NAV-Header&utm_medium=Link&utm_campaign=ADV_G 7324 Noah Reid Rd, Chattanooga, TN 37421.
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