Obituary of Thomas Needham

NEEDHAM, THOMAS WILLIAM " TOMMY" Ocala - Thomas William "Tommy" Needham, 88, died on Saturday, May 9, 2009 at Life Care Center of Ocala. He was born on April 20, 1921 at the Old Needham Farm which was located at 24th and 3rd Streets in Ocala. He was a lifelong hunter, fisherman, outdoorsman, coach, community leader and public servant. He graduated from Ocala High School in 1939 and played AAA Pro Baseball with the Milwaukee Braves. He served his country in the U.S. Navy Seabees, 43rd Construction Battalion in the South Pacific, Alaska and Nagasaki, Japan 1942-1945. He was marred to Bessie Nelle Wade on July 12, 1942 and she preceded him in death in Feb. 2002. Tommy held the following memberships: President of OHS Booster Club, President of Marion Wildlife Club, President of Florida Wildlife Federation, President of "Save Lake Ocklawaha", Florida State Non-Pro Baseball Commissioner 1957-62, Trustee of Florida Nature Conservancy, Life member of both the Marion County Sheriff's Search and Rescue and Silver Springs Radio Club, served 3 terms from 1978-1990 on the Marion County Board of County Commissioners, Ocklawaha Water Basin Board, Board member of the American Red Cross, 65 year member of Marion-Dunn Lodge No. 19, F&AM, 32nd Degree Ocala Scottish Rite Bodies, Morocco Shrine Temple in Jacksonville, Ocala Shrine Club, VFW Post No. 4209, receipiant of 1975 Exchange Club Book of Golden Deeds Award and a 71 year member of First Christian Church where he served as a deacon. Tommy is survived by his sons, William P. "Pat" Needham and wife Donna of Salt Springs and Thomas M. "Mike" Needham and wife Julie of Ocala, his grandchildren, W.P. "Bumpy" Needham and wife Terri Lynn of Ocala, Tiffany Needham Herold and husband Jeff of Sat Springs and Sandra Leon and husband Peter of Quincy, MA, his great granddaughters, Bianca Sophia Leon and Sophia Elaina Leon, his brother, Winston M. Needham and his wife Karen of Ocala, his nieces, Noelle N. Smith and husband Will of Roswell, GA and Regan N. Wiles and husband Derek of Ocala and his grand nephews, Grant and Seth Wiles of Ocala and Jacob W. Smith of Roswell, GA. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, May 13, 2009 at 11:00 A.M. at First Christian Church with Dr. Douglas V. Moore officiating. A visitation will be held on Tuesday from 5-8 PM at Hiers-Baxley Funeral Services, 910 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala. Interment will be at Highland Memorial Park with Masonic graveside rites. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to ARC Marion, 2800 SE Maricamp Road, Ocala, FL 34471 or Marion County Veterans Park, 111 SE 25th Ave., Ocala, FL 34471.