The Life of Thomas Richard Fournet Sr.
Funeral services will be held at 9:00 am on Friday, August 24, 2012 in the Delhomme Chapel of the Flowers for Thomas Richard Fournet, Sr., 85, who passed away peacefully at home on August 20, 2012 at 6:56 pm after a quick downward glide from cancer.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed at Delhomme Funeral Home of Lafayette on Thursday, August 23, 2012 from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm, and on Friday from 7:00 am until time of service.
Reverend Monsignor Charles Mallet will conduct the funeral services.
Burial will take place in Lafayette Memorial Park Cemetery.
Mr. Fournet, a resident of Lafayette, LA, was the son of the late Jean Jacques Fournet of St. Martinville, Louisiana, and the former Anne Aurore Labb'' of Lafayette, Louisiana.
He is survived by his son David C. Fournet and his wife Andrea Fournet of Fayetteville, AR, and their daughter Adele Fournet of New York City; son Charles H. Fournet and his wife Sallie Vice Fournet, and their children: Bradley and Allison Fournet, all of Lafayette, LA; and his daughter, Martha F. Savage and her children: Joshua, Cody, Nicholas, and Brandy Savage, all of Tampa, FL; his brothers, Howard and Frederick Fournet of Lafayette, LA, and Daniel Fournet of Danville, CA; as well as his sisters, Anna Louise Fournet and Nell Comeaux of Lafayette, LA.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of fifty-four years, Shirley Fournet; and his son, Thomas R. Fournet, Jr.; his brothers Paul, Jim and Bob Fournet, and his sister, Jeanne F. Holly.
Words can only hint at the wholeness of a person, and here are just a few: Tom was a humorous, optimistic man, often known to break into song (usually in tune), in keeping with his lifelong love of music. He passed these and other gifts on to his children and grandchildren, along with an abiding curiosity and concern for fellow humans. He enjoyed golf, fishing, and energetic conversation with family and friends.
Tom served in the U.S. Navy at the tail end of WW II on the aircraft carrier USS Tulagi. He also served in the U.S. Air Force Reserves after the war. He graduated in Business from SLI (USL-ULL) in 1953.
As head of the Flight Department at Paul Fournet Air Service, Tom helped shape aviation in South Louisiana for 35+ years, training thousands of pilots as a Flight Instructor and Examiner, and orchestrating a fleet of aircraft and pilots to serve the air charter needs of the region. One of his proudest achievements was having a fatality-free record for charter flights during his tenure. He was a mentor to many, a friend to countless, and will be dearly missed by us all.
In lieu of flowers the family requested donations be made to Hospice of Acadiana, 2600 Johnston St., Ste. 200, Lafayette, LA 70503. Tom and his family are deeply grateful to the hospice and other home helpers who worked with us in keeping dad comfortable.
Delhomme Funeral Home, 1011 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, LA, is in charge of funeral arrangements.
