Thomas Wayne Stilwell

Thomas Wayne Stilwell, 65, of Ochlocknee, passed away August 29, 2015 in Saipan, in the Northern Mariana Islands, where he was supporting disaster survivors in the aftermath of Typhoon Soudelor. The family will receive visitors at Allen and Allen Funeral Home on Friday, September 4, 2015, from 5 – 7 p.m., and services will be held at St. Thomas Episcopal Church on Saturday, September 5, 2015, at 1p.m. A graveside service will follow at Laurel Hill Cemetery. Born October 17, 1949, in Camilla, Georgia, he was preceded in death by father John Stilwell, mother Sarah Virginia Riggs Reese, and uncle J.C. (Bud) Riggs. Mr. Stilwell was a Navy veteran who served during the Vietnam Conflict and went on to an early career as an air traffic controller. He spent the last twenty-seven years of his career with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, where he assisted in over one hundred federal disasters, including Hurricane Andrew, the September 11th Attacks (where he served at Ground Zero for two months in the immediate aftermath), and Hurricane Katrina. He was loved by all who met him, due to his generous nature, love of making people laugh, and consummate storytelling ability. Above all else, he loved spending time with his grandchildren (and spoiling them rotten). Those who were loved by Tom never doubted it, and his survivors consider that to be the greatest gift he could have given them. He is survived by immediate family Carol Stilwell, his former wife of thirty-five years; their daughters Jessica Stilwell and Beth Stilwell Weiss, son-in-law Adam Weiss, and beloved grandchildren Addison, Carter, and Cooper Weiss, all of Ochlocknee. He also was surrounded by an extended family of siblings, aunts, cousins, nieces, nephews, close coworkers, and dear friends, including the Collier, Conger, Fulgum, Ginchereau, Goodhue, Jones, Kierce, Riggs, and Weiss families. Particular among these are Michael Kierce, a nephew he loved as a son and Joyce Riggs, an aunt he loved as a mother. For those who prefer a charitable donation in lieu of flowers, donations in his name can be made to the Boys and Girls Club of America. Guests may sign the online register at www.allenfh.com .