Colonel Thomas K. Seybold

Colonel (U.S. Army - Retired) Thomas Koenig Seybold – beloved husband, father, Pap-Pap – passed away peacefully on May 9, 2024 at the age of 87 with his wife Karen Francis Woodward Seybold by his side. Tom was born on February 10, 1937 in Cleveland, Ohio, to Grandville Joseph and Esther Koenig Seybold, both teachers. He grew up in Dayton, Ohio with his older sister, Barbara Seybold (later Scranton Musgrave) who became an accomplished musician and teacher.

Tom’s marriage to Karen was the greatest joy of his life. They were married 64 years and had three sons and daughters-in-law and nine grandchildren. Tom met Karen “with her striking red hair” at a wedding and as the story goes, everyone was enjoying themselves so much during the reception that they decided there needed to be another wedding the following year whereupon Tom volunteered to marry Karen, of course, what a surprise when it came true! Together they raised three sons, traveled the world, and had many wondrous adventures.

Tom’s life was guided by the motto of his alma mater the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, “Duty, Honor, Country”; the belief that excellence should be the goal of all endeavors; always trying to set an example; and the enduring importance of family.

In his youth, Tom was a Soap Box Derby champion, an Eagle Scout, “most likely to succeed” at Fairview High School (1955 graduate), an athlete including tennis, squash, football, and basketball, and a musician who played the double bass for house band performances. He also dabbled with the sousaphone, piano, and banjo ukulele (a future delight for his grandchildren).

Tennis was a pursuit that he took with him when he entered West Point and continued throughout life. In retirement he captained adult teams and taught youth. He later switched to pickleball and enjoyed being a part of the pickleball scene at the Broadmead Retirement Community.

Tom was a career Army officer, retiring as a full colonel in 1987 after serving 28 years. A 1959 graduate of West Point, he chose the Infantry Branch, became an Airborne Ranger, and earned a master’s degree at the University of Illinois in Theoretical and Applied Mechanics. His unique and long Army career included command and staff duty, two tours in Vietnam, teaching in the Department of Mechanics at West Point, four years in West Germany, development of the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, and Director of Infantry Combat Developments. After retirement from the Army, Tom had a second career managing defense programs for AAI (now Textron), followed by several years in private consulting. In full retirement, Tom served for six years as President of the Star Spangled Banner Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America.

Tom and Karen were pleased how after all their military travel assignments their three sons all settled nearby in Maryland where grandchildren and the long line of family dogs could be together and take frequent trips to their vacation cabin in the Pocono Mountains. Tom enjoyed joking with his children and grandchildren, and he inspired joy in others with his love of country, racquet sports, and his great drive. Tom will be deeply missed by his friends and family, who will cherish the memories and time spent with him.

He is survived by his wife Karen, sons and daughters-in-law Thomas Woodward and Karen Manley Seybold, David Joseph and Jacqueline Eby Seybold, Matthew George and Vanessa Limawararut Seybold, and Seybold grandchildren John Thomas Manley, Margaret Jane, Halley Lynne, Julia Mae, Caroline Grace, George Kenneth David, Desmond Limawararut, Emmett Limawararut, Adele Limawararut, and Jack Russell Terrier “Puzzle”.

Relatives and friends are invited to Broadmead Retirement Community, 13801 York Rd, Cockeysville, MD 21030, on June 1st at 11 AM.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Army Emergency Relief Fund, 2530 Crystal Dr., Suite 13161

Arlington, VA 22202. Your donations will go directly to programs that support soldiers and Army families. GIVING LINK: HTTPS://WWW.ARMYEMERGENCYRELIEF.ORG/DONATE/.