Thomas Hancel Dean Jr., 99, of Vero Beach, passed away on Jan. 29, 2015.
He is survived by his wife Dolores, daughters Cheryl and Margaret and son Thomas. Only God knows how much I miss and love him.
Dean was born in Nicholls, Ga., on Nov. 19, 1915.
He was the second youngest of seven children, he grew up as an independent, sports oriented man. At a young age, his family moved to Vero Beach. After attending Vero Beach High School he attended Oglethorpe University and The University of Florida.
With the advent of war, he was refused entry into the United States Air Force for a perceived eyesight problem. Persistence led him to Windsor, Ontario, Canada in 1942 to enlist in the pilot training program of the Royal Canadian Air Force. After basic training and flight school he was assigned to 184 Squadron based in England where he flew Hurricane and Typhoon fighter planes.
Following a successful military career that culminated in the Normandy Invasion (D Day) he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and discharged in 1945. He returned to Florida with an English wife and young son to resume his civilian life.
He was again to become a father to two girls in the ensuing years. His professional life followed an upward progression until his retirement at the age of 65 when he returned to Florida.
Following the death of his first wife, Margaret, on Sept. 22, 1997, he met and married Dolores Daunno on Aug. 22, 2001 in Vero Beach.
