Thomas E. Lightfoot, 81, passed away on July 4, 2026, while a resident of SpiriTrust Luther Ridge. Born on April 4, 1945, in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, Tom was the son of the late Leslie Ray Lightfoot and Esther Mowery Lightfoot.
Tom’s greatest passion in life was the outdoors. An avid fisherman, he also enjoyed hunting, biking, kayaking, hiking, birding, and cross-country skiing. He shared this passion through volunteer work with the C&O Canal Association, where he participated in numerous improvement projects so others could enjoy the canal as much as he did. He also volunteered with wounded veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, helping them experience one of his favorite pastimes-fishing.
Tom was himself a veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard, enlisting after graduating from Shippensburg High School. He served in Sardinia, Italy, and New Orleans, Louisiana. He continued his service to the nation as a U.S. Army civilian for more than 40 years. During his career, primarily in telecommunications, he earned both a bachelor’s degree and an MBA from Shippensburg University while working in a variety of positions at Letterkenny Army Depot, Raven Rock Mountain Complex, and Fort Ritchie. He also had the opportunity to take his family to Europe while serving at Headquarters, 5th Signal Command, in Worms, Germany, during the height of the Cold War. Upon returning to the United States, he worked at Fort Ritchie, the U.S. Army War College at Carlisle Barracks, and, before retiring, contributed to the Pentagon renovation project that began years before the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and was significantly expanded afterward.
Tom is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, Linda (Fortna), with whom he traveled the world. Together they visited more than two dozen countries on five continents, as well as countless destinations throughout the United States, including many national parks. They treasured the history, culture, cuisine, and natural beauty they encountered along the way. A gifted and prolific photographer, especially in his earlier years, Tom leaves behind a remarkable collection of photographs that preserves the memories of those travels.
In addition to his wife, Tom is survived by his sons, Thomas Daniel Lightfoot and wife, Brenda, of Cypress, Texas, and grandchildren Anthony (wife Gretchen), Phoebe, Kathryn and Eliza; and Michael Steven Lightfoot and wife, Kristin, of Fayetteville, Pennsylvania, granddaughter Jane (husband Jacob) and great-granddaughter Beatrice. He is also survived by his sisters, Sharon Davidson, Judy Dakin, and Nancy Vaughn. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Ray Lightfoot.
The family will hold a private memorial service to celebrate Tom’s life and the many wonderful memories they shared. After living with Parkinson’s disease for several years, Tom faced its challenges with determination, so in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation at Parkinson.org.
