Thomas Steven Stites' Obituary
Thomas Steven Stites died peacefully on April 12, 2026, at the age of 75, at Arbor Hills Memory Care of Plano.
Born June 8, 1950, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to Joe and Anne Stites, Tom grew up in the Lake Highlands area of Dallas, He graduated in 1968 from Lake Highlands High School, where he was a star athlete. Tom received an appointment to the US Air Force Academy, where he played Division 1 football and baseball. After gaining his commission as an officer in 1972, he graduated from pilot training, and later piloted B-52 bombers, attaining the rank of captain in the US Air Force.
Upon leaving the Air Force, Tom began piloting for Delta Airlines in 1979, where he flew for 27 years and rose to the rank of captain. He flew many trips all around the world including regular stints to Hawaii, Germany and Japan. He also received a Master's of Science from Abilene Christian University, and worked as a successful real estate broker and agent during and after his retirement from Delta.
A HUGE sports fan, Tom was a season ticket owner to the Dallas Mavericks since the team located to Dallas in 1981 through 2022. In addition, he was a season ticket holder to the Dallas Cowboys for many years and proudly owns two of the original stadium chairs from Texas Stadium.
Tom will be remembered for ardently cheering/coaching his daughters from the sidelines at their numerous activities and sporting events at The Hockaday School. He was deeply involved in the Lake Highlands High School Class of '68 reunions committee, Air Force Academy Alumni Association and a member of Park Cities Baptist Church since he was a child.
Tom was a diehard Alan Jackson fan, and never could resist a karaoke night or a chance to host a gathering at his home. Later in life, Tom enjoyed spending time at the lake, walking his dogs and joking around with his grandsons. Tom had a larger-than-life personality and sense of humor and maintained that sense of humor up until the end.
Tom is survived by his daughters and sons-in-law, Worth Anne and Aaron Herrell, and Meredith and Jason Worley, all of Plano, and Sarah and Julian D'Angelo of San Diego, California, three grandchildren, Mack & Houston Herrell and Eleanor Worley, sisters Stevvi Stanley and Marggi Monsees of Dallas, and brother Rob Stites of Arlington.
Funeral Services will be held on Monday, April 20th at Restland Wildwood Chapel located at 13005 Greenville Ave. Dallas, TX. Visitation with the family beginning at 9:30am, Funeral service at 10:30am with burial immediately afterwards.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the North Texas Association of Air Force Academy Graduates at https://www.ntxaog.org/
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