Thomas David Froom

Thomas David “Tom” Froom, of Arlington, TX, age 77, entered his eternal home on October 30, 2023 after battling Parkinson’s disease and dementia for several years. He was the best husband and father on the planet–a gentle soul who possessed a quiet strength. He was adored not only by his family, but also children and pets in general.

Tom grew up in Rockford, IL and graduated from Rockford West High School. He studied business at Iowa State University, where he met Marjorie “Marge” Hines and joined ROTC. After graduation, he married Marge in 1968 and immediately joined the Army with an assignment in the Signal Corps. Before long, he was stationed in Germany. Tom and Marge traveled all over Germany and western Europe.

After concluding his Army service in 1971, Tom began working for the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES), where he remained for 30 years. Following short stints in Aurora, CO, Topeka, KS, and San Antonio, TX, Tom and Marge settled in Arlington, TX in 1974. Tom spent most of his career at AAFES headquarters, but in 1989 he was transferred to Munich, Germany, and off the family went for a two-and-a-half-year adventure. Whenever Germans discovered that Tom was from the Dallas area, they joked about J.R. Ewing. The family took advantage of the opportunity to travel extensively throughout southern Germany and Austria, as well as to London, Rome, Venice, Florence, Pisa, and Paris. In fact, Tom bravely drove the family car to Paris and navigated around the Arc de Triomphe.

Tom, an avid photographer, co-owned a photography business for approximately 30 years. Soccer teams were the main focus, but he photographed other youth sports teams, too, and the occasional wedding.

Despite being outnumbered by a wife and all daughters, Tom thrived. Even the dogs and horses are female!

In his retirement, Tom volunteered with the Key Elementary Dads’ Club and Runners’ Club, as well as Miss Bunny’s pre-K class in East Arlington. Always health-conscious, he walked four miles a day at a brisk pace of four miles per hour and was a recognizable sight in the neighborhood. Once a police officer in Dalworthington Gardens even clocked him with a radar gun!

Tom and Marge cheered for the Texas Rangers, sharing season tickets with friends for a number of years. He would have been thrilled to see the Rangers win the World Series.

He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Marge; daughters Julie Froom of Arlington, VA and Jennifer Trevino and Emily Trevino of Arlington, TX; sister Jan Davis; sister-in-law Charlene Hines; extended family members; and dear friends.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 8 from 6-8 PM at Wade Funeral Home. Interment will take place on Thursday, November 9 at 10:15 AM at DFW National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Wreaths Across America