Roger Dale Tome

Firefighter Roger Dale Tome, 71, of Windermere, was out on his regular afternoon run on February 10, 2014 when he stepped into eternity. An active-duty firefighter for the last 52 years, Roger was an Assistant Fire Chief at NASA/Kennedy Space Center where served since December 1971. Roger began his career on the Orlando Fire Department in 1961 and served under Chief Paul Pennington and Chief Melvin Rivenbark. His friend G. Calvin Bookhardt, who died on duty in 1972, was possibly one of his greatest mentors, teaching him how to live a life worth living.  

Roger faithfully served his country as a medic in the Ranger Battalion of the U.S. Army Reserves during the Vietnam Era. A graduate of Edgewater High School C/O 1960, he studied Political Science at Rollins while beginning his career in the fire service.  

Named to the list of Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Program LEGENDS, he is one of the few people to have worked at the Space Center during the entire Shuttle Transport System history. Roger bravely served on the first Astronaut Emergency Rescue team and served as its team leader for the shuttle program. Additional achievements include serving on Apollo, Space Lab, and all shuttle missions by heading emergency rescue operations at contingency landing sites in North Africa.

Roger was known to all for his smile, laughter and warmth. He never knew a stranger and treated every person as if they were the most important person on earth. He fell in love with the Magic Kingdom from the beginning. It was his favorite date destination with Judi  Underwood Tome and the place where he knew he had fallen in love. He delighted in providing his children and grandchildren with annual passes and continued to enjoy Disney World throughout his life. 

A long time resident of Windermere, Roger grew up fishing the Butler Chain of Lakes and made up his mind to raise his family there. He loved running along Main Street and his end of the run reward was a stop at Allen’s Creamery for coffee, also the place he enjoyed the grandchildren from his favorite bench. 

He grew up at Miller Memorial Baptist Church and later joined First Baptist Church of Central Florida (formerly FBC-Pine Hills) where he met the love of his life, Judi. He taught first grade Sunday School for many years and in recent years kept an eye on his elderly friends and loved his choir and pastors. 

Roger devoted his life to the service of others and saving lives. He was a man of honor, courage, and kindness, who loved His Lord above all else. He leaves behind his wife Judi of 40 years, his two daughters, Kristin and Karin, and his two grandchildren. 

Services will be held at First Baptist Church of Central Florida, 700 Good Homes Road, on Saturday, February 15, 2014 at 10:00 AM with a graveside service at Woodlawn Memorial Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, remembrances can be made to Gideon’s International or First Baptist Church of Central Florida (student missions).