Thomas Clark Gilligan, 85, of Jefferson City, died Saturday, March 20, 2010, at Heisinger Bluffs.
He was born in Cardin, Oklahoma, the son of the late Thomas and Zealon Smith Gilligan. He was united in marriage in 1948 to Lorraine Babe Quickstad who preceded him in death in 1999. As a child and young man, he lived in Oklahoma, Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, Colorado, and Utah. In 1942, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He was selected for Officer Candidate School in 1946, and was commissioned as an Air Force Officer. He was stationed in Arizona, California, Washington, D.C. (Pentagon), Virginia, and Colorado, plus three tours in Alaska. He proudly served for nearly twenty-five years retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 1967. He began work for Scholastic, Inc., which was opening its new Jefferson City facility. He relocated with family to Jefferson City in 1967, which became the home he never had. As the Assistant General Manager at Scholastic, he was instrumental in establishing and managing the facility for twenty-one years. Upon retiring a second time in 1989, he continued to donate and be active in the community. He worked for the Downtown Business Association and was Quartermaster for VFW Post 1003. He frequented the American Legion Post 5 to socialize with friends. He also loved working on crossword puzzles.
He is survived by three sons, Stephen Gilligan, Frisco, Texas; Michael (wife Pam) Gilligan, Jefferson City; James Gilligan (wife Elaine), Blue Springs, Mo.; five grandchildren; three step-grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and three step-great-grandchildren; and one sister, Katherine Reiboldt, Needles, Calif.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 27, 2010, at Grace Episcopal Church with the Rev. Shariya Molegoda officiating and the Rev. Ronald Keel assisting. Entombment with military honors provided by Whiteman Air Force Base will be in Hawthorn Memorial Gardens Mausoleum. Visitation will be 5-7 p.m. Friday, March 26th, at Dulle-Trimble Funeral Home. Memorials are suggested to Grace Episcopal Church, 217 Adams Street, Jefferson City, MO 65101. Those wishing to email condolences to the family may do so at the www.dulletrimble.com website.