Obituary of Thomas Mark Couch, Sr.

Our beloved father, grandfather, and uncle, Thomas M. Couch Sr., 86, of Reston Virginia, went home to be with the Lord on July 14, 2022.

Preceding Tom in death were his beloved first wife Elaine Couch; his parents, Charles and Mary Couch; five brothers, Robert Haldeman, Charles Couch, Edward Couch, Ronald Couch, and William Couch; and three sisters, Kathryn Couch, Elizabeth Jean Sharpe, and Margaret Haldeman.

Tom is survived by his beloved second wife Kari Peters;  children, Sandra Rosend (and James); Kimberly Markee (and Thomas); and Thomas M. Couch Jr. (and Jenny); grandchildren, Matthew, Leif, Luke, Sydney, Thomas III, James, Kessly, and Michael; and many nieces and nephews.

Tom was born in 1936 and lived in Ashland, Pennsylvania until the family moved to Tamaqua, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Tamaqua High School in 1955, where over the course of high school he was active in student government, notably as his sophomore class president.  Tom loved football, playing End (#39) and was selected for the state All Star team his senior year.  A friend to everyone, Tom was voted his high school’s first May King.

After high school, Tom enlisted in the US Navy where he honorably served for 4 years, achieving the rank of Radioman Second Class. 

Tom retired from serving his country after a distinguished  40-year Federal Civilian Service career in Foreign Service with the Department of State as a Communications Officer.  He served in Bonn, Germany; Bern Switzerland, Kampala, Uganda; Oslo, Norway; Rome, Italy; Melbourne Australia; Pretoria, South Africa; and Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.  Tom was a recipient of the prestigious State Department Meritorious Honor Award and the John Jacob Rogers Award.

Tom’s faith and family were the most important things to him.  He was an active member of Saint John Neumann Church in Reston, and his retirement years were spent taking grandkids to endless practices, and never missing games and special events.

He enjoyed volunteering for the Red Cross, antiquing, fixing clocks, growing exotic house plants, watching just about any sport, and keeping up with his grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 am on Thursday, July 21, 2022, at St John Neumann Church, 11900 Lawyers Road, Reston, Virginia.  Visitation will be before Mass, and friends and family are invited to a reception following Mass in the Church auditorium. Interment will be at 2 pm at Culpeper National Cemetery.