Born October 21 l928 Kalamazoo Michigan the youngest of six children of Ralph Jamison and Clara (Folger) Wainwright.



His parents moved the family to Florida in l936 and lived in Miami Springs Fl. until 1944 when family purchased an Avocado Grove of ten acres in the Redlands of south Dade County, near Homestead Florida. He attended Homestead high school where he was active in Drama and played rolls in several school-sponsored plays during this time he was active in hunting, fishing,  agriculture, cars and GIRLS. In October of l947 He enrolled in Marion Military School at Marion Alabama where he became interested in the military life and after leaving Marion he enrolled in the Florida National Guard and became a full time guardsman as an employee.



In January of 1950 Tom went into the army and trained in Fort Jackson So. Carolina and later in Fort Bliss Texas where he graduated from antiaircraft and Leadership Schools.  After a three-week leave he was to report to Ft. Lewis Washington for combat duty in South Korea.



During his leave at home Tom married Georgia Ann Chapman and left for Korea three days later.  On his arrival at Pusan Korea, he and the other soldiers were issued weapons and ammunition and loaded onto a train headed north to the battle zone.  Soon after, his train came under fire and he learned why they had been issued rifles and ammunition.

The next day they arrived at their new Unit Company D 38th regiment of the Second Infantry division, while under an artillery attack.  Not long after this he was assigned to an M-16 Half track vehicle with four 50 caliber machine guns in which he took part in three major battles and was promoted to sergeant and commanded a section of two of these vehicles. In August of 1952 his unit was sent back for re supplying and this was on Koj - Edo Island where all of our prisoners of war both North Koreans and Chinese were held.  During this period the famous prisoner riots took place and several of our high-ranking officers were captured and held by the prisoners.  Shortly after Tom was rotated out of the combat and was shipped to Japan to await transport back to the U. S. During his time in Korea he received  many awards and citations  However he received just prior to his return a letter from his wife Georgia Ann who informed him that she was getting a divorce and wished him well.



Three weeks later Tom returned home for a thirty day leave before being discharged at Fort Rucker Alabama in October 1952.



On return home Tom went to work for the family business as a manufacturer's representative in the packaging business and moved Jacksonville Fl.  Where he met and married Frances Erwin, in 1954 of this marriage three children were born, Ralph, Sheryl, and Charles, Sheryl passed away not long after her birth.   In l959 Tom and Frances moved back to Miami. Tom became very active in the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary where he served more than ten thousand hours each in search and rescue and instruction and many more in vessel inspection and was promoted to Vessel Examination Officer for the seventh Coast Guard district.  Two of the things Tom was proudest of was the organization of an Easter sunrise service held on the edge of the ocean on Elliot key, a south Florida Island which is only assessable by boat. A cross was fashioned using driftwood found along the shore and a small pump organ was borrowed along with the choir from his church. And was all transported the ten miles at five in the morning this service was attended by over one hundred boaters dressed in every fashion from bikinis to starched white dress coast guard uniforms. The other was his ordination as a ruling elder in the Pinecrest Presbyterian Church.



Tom and Frances were divorced in 1972.



He continued on in the old family business, where after a period of opening, owning and operating a fiberglass boat repair and manufacturing company Tom sold this business to became to sole owner and operator of the old family business.



Tom met Tara Rae (Terri) his loving wife and they were married in October of 1973 at Miami. They moved to Clermont Fl. in 1974.  Flying became his passion.  An airplane was purchased and used for both business and pleasure.  The business was sold in l990 but retirement was short lived when he became an Administrative assistant At the Lake Highlands nursing home however after leaving there he was not satisfied to remain at home and went to work for his brother in law at his dry cleaning shop.  During which time he became interested and deeply involved in starting a new Presbyterian Church in the South Lake area.   That Church is now known as the Crosspoint Presbyterian Church and has been one of the many highlights of Toms faith journey as it continues now, being with his Lord. He asks that you not cry for him but be glad that he lived his life as best he knew how with humor and love for all.



Tom was an active member of the Clermont Kiwanis club for many years and was active in many other civic programs and took pride in his love of the community and this country.



A Celebration of Tom's life will be held at 7 PM Wednesday, March 9, 2011 at Becker Funeral Home, with Military Honors being presented.  A Gathering will take place from 6 PM till service time.  The family suggests in lieu of flowers memorials to the National Kidney Foundation, 1040 Woodcock Road, Suite 119, Orlando, FL 32803 or Crosspoint Presbyterian Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 121630, Clermont, FL 34712-1630.

Becker Family Funeral Home, 806 W. Minneola Ave., Clermont, FL 34711, is serving the family.