Thomas G. Light

Thomas Gene Light 1960 - 2025
We mournfully announce the passing of Thomas Gene Light, 64, USN/RET of Denton, Texas, on February 15, 2025 after a difficult battle with cancer.
Born September 21, 1960 in San Diego, California to Anne Swallow Light and Herman C Light, Tom grew up the second youngest of six kids.
You never met a man that cherished a chore like Tom Light. Much to the chagrin of his children, Tom would rouse the house by 8:00 a.m. on Saturday ("Up and at 'em boys!") and assign tasks–mowing, raking, weeding–then lead the charge. From the outside, it looked like a strange devotion to mundane maintenance, but anyone that got to know Tom, quickly learned one thing to be true: Tom Light was a doer.
This was a man who served as a baseball coach to his oldest son's team, because they couldn't play without one. A man who became band parent president for his middle son's marching band despite a comical lack of any musical ability. A man that would drive across the country for days to pin the medal on his youngest son's uniform when he became an officer.
If it needed to be done, you could count on Tom Light to do it. Just ask anyone that knew him from the dozens of church communities he served over the years. When the Navy sent the Light family to a new city, Tom would plug in at a new church, and get to work. From Virginia to Hawaii and so many states between, Tom set an example to everyone around him that leadership didn't always have to come from the person in front.
Despite his penchant for putting in work, he couldn't have done even half of it if not for his wife, Penny. Tom the doer, Penny the amplifier, together a force of supportive love and warmth, that benefited countless communities, neighbors, students, and friends for four decades.
Tom served as an ETC(SS) in the US Navy from January 10, 1982 to February 10th, 2004. During that time, he'd often get deployed for long stretches, asked to do in service of his country. In those times, Penny carried the torch–got involved, doled out Saturday morning tasks,and showed her sons and her community what leadership looked like.
After his time in the Navy, Tom worked for Tetrapak for 18 years, traveling the world (this time not in a giant underwater metal tube), teaching engineers, solving mechanical problems, and poorly pronouncing words in Italian.
Remaining to cherish his memory are his mother, Anne Light, sisters Becky Green of Kerville, TX, and Terry Schiurring of San Marcos, TX, his wife Penny Light, his sons Logan Light of Searcy AR, Austin Light of Charlotte, NC, and Cole Light of Richmond, VA, three wonderful daughters-in-law, Beth Light, Brooke Light, and Tori Light, and six amazing grandkids–Logan and Beth's children, Ellis (15), and Kendi (10), Austin and Brooke's children, Parker (13), and Wesley (10), and Cole and Tori's children, Ruby (10), and Owen (5).
Tom will be remembered for a lifetime of doing–so much of it in service of others.
Graveside services and interment will be at Ft Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas on March 7, 2025 at 9:45a.m.
Memorial services will be conducted on March 15, 2025 at 1:30p.m. at Garden Ridge Church of Christ in Lewisville, Texas. In lieu of flowers, please send contributions to Garden Ridge Church of Christ, where Tom proudly served as an elder.