Thomas Watry

THOMAS R. WATRY, age 79, of Adrian, passed away on Saturday, November 9, 2024, at the Sanford Luverne Hospice Cottage. He was born on December 12, 1944 in Adrian MN, the oldest child of Ted and Lenora (Cox) Watry. He graduated from St. Adrian High School in 1962. After completing two years at Worthington Junior College, Tom transferred to St. Mary's College in Winona, MN and graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in 1967.
Tom joined the U.S. Navy and received his commission as an ensign at the Naval Aviation Schools Command at NAS, Pensacola, Florida in February 1969. Tom completed his flight training at the Naval Air Station, Corpus Christi, Texas and became a Naval Flight Officer in Oct 1969. While on active duty, Tom was stationed in Guam and did a Tour of Duty in Vietnam. As a collateral duty, Tom was also the legal officer for his squadron in Guam.
After completing his active duty in the Navy, Tom returned to Minnesota and completed the coursework for a Master's Degree in Business Administration at Mankato State University. Tom was not able to complete his thesis because his parents needed him to farm their land when his father became ill. Tom and his brother, Dan, have continued to farm their parents' land as well as their own land since then.
Tom joined the U.S. Naval Reserve and served a total of 28 years in the military. While he was Commanding Officer of the Navy Reserve Readiness Unit in Sioux Falls, they were awarded the Nation's Top Readiness Award in 1992. This Unit was attached to Naval Stations in Seal Beach, CA and San Diego, CA. Tom also commanded an Intermediate Maintenance Facility in Sioux City, Iowa and a "Sea Bee" Unit in Minneapolis, MN. While he served with the US Naval Reserve Patrol Squadron VP-90 based at Glenview Naval Air Station near Chicago, his squadron was assigned to support operations in Guam and NAS Barber's Point, Hawaii.
Tom grew up in a family that loved music. He played the piano, trombone and sang and played guitar with friends and family groups while in high school and college. Tom also played the bugle in the Worthington VFW Drum and Bugle Corps. He was a 47 year member of the American Legion in Adrian and a life member of VFW Post 3958 in Worthington, MN.
He enjoyed traveling and he loved nature. He traveled around the US and visited many national parks. Tom skied in Colorado and Utah, and while vacationing in Europe, he skied in the Alps of Austria. Tom vacationed in Australia, as well as Ireland and England, the home of his ancestors. He also spent many winters traveling in the southern states.
Tom is survived by his brother and five sisters, Dan, Adrian; Mary, San Diego, CA; Coleen, Alexandria, VA; Marge, Chaska, MN; Sharon, St. Cloud, MN; and Jean, Edina, MN; niece, Emily Jones (Justin), Minneapolis, MN, and a nephew, Spencer Davis, Minneapolis, MN.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ted and Lenora Watry; and his brother-in-law, Tom Davis.
Memorial Mass will be 11 am Saturday, November 23, at St. Adrian Catholic Church, in Adrian, officiated by Monsignor Richard Colletti. A time of fellowship will be from 9 to 11 am Saturday at the church. Burial with full military honors provided by the Adrian American Legion will be in the St. Adrian Cemetery.
Dingmann Funeral Home & Cremation Services, in Adrian, is in charge of arrangements.
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