Clifford Gerald Thuot, Sr. – Captain, United States Navy

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Clifford Gerald Thuot Sr., 86, a retired Navy Captain who later worked at the Federal Trade Commission, died September 6, 2006, of multiple myeloma at his home in Fairfax City, Virginia.

Captain Thuot was born in New Bedford, Massachusetts, and graduated from high school at 16. He worked in textile mills and then as an apprentice machinist in a torpedo factory at the beginning of World War II. He also played bass fiddle in a small dance band.

In August 1943, he became a Naval Aviation Cadet and eight months later received his wings of gold. He flew a variety of aircraft, including the Douglas AD-4B Skyraider, in combat missions off the aircraft carrier USS Lake Champlain during the Korean War.

During his 28-year Navy career, Captain Thuot's assignments included executive officer at the Naval Air Station in Grosse Ile, Michigan, and his last assignment was as chief of the transmission system engineering division of the Defense Communications Engineering Office in Washington.

He received many military honors, including the Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with one star and the Navy Commendation Medal with V. He retired from active duty in 1971.

In his second career, Captain Thuot was a supervisor in the records division at the Federal Trade Commission until retiring in 1984.

While working full time and sharing in the rearing of his eight children, Captain Thuot attended night school and received a bachelor's degree in business administration from Roosevelt University in Chicago in 1969. He also completed 18 hours toward a graduate degree in education at the University of Virginia.

A resident of Little River Hills in Fairfax City for 49 years, Captain Thuot served as a Little League baseball coach and umpire. He was a member of St. Leo the Great Catholic Church, where he served as an usher, and belonged to the Knights of Columbus.

Early on, Captain Thuot and his wife played golf and were members of a bowling league. He also was a penny-ante poker player, and for more than 30 years he and a group of friends gathered for poker games three times a week. Until recently, Captain Thuot planted a garden every year and shared vegetables with his neighbors.

When his wife suffered a stroke in 1992, Captain Thuot became her caregiver and assumed domestic responsibilities for the household. Claire Rita Thuot, to whom he was married for 55 years, died in 2000.

Survivors include eight children, former astronaut and retired Navy Captain Pierre Thuot of Centreville, Michael Thuot of Warrenton, Fairfax Fire Department Capt. Gregory Thuot of Stafford, Suzanne Aldrich of Toledo, Jeanne Kimball of Tallahassee, Clifford G. Thuot Jr. of Houston, Christine Ross of Falmouth, Massachusetts, and Stephen Thuot of Athens, Georgia; 15 grandchildren; and one great-grandson.

THUOT, CLIFFORD GERALD, SR., Capt. USNR (Ret.)

On Wednesday, September 6, 2006 at his residence, CLIFFORD GERALD THUOT, of Fairfax, Virginia; beloved husband of the Claire Rita Thuot; dear father of Suzanne Aldrich, Jeanne Kimball, Christine Ross, Clifford, Jr., Pierre, Michael, Gregory and Stephen; cherished grandfather of 15 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

A Mass of Christian Burial will beheld on Tuesday, October 3 at St. Leo the Great Catholic Church, 3700 Old Lee Hwy., Fairfax at 11:30 a.m. Interment Arlington National Cemetery at 2 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to the above named church, Fairfax City professional Firefighters and Paramedics, PO Box 850, Fairfax, VA 22030 or the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, 875 N. Randolph St., Ste 225, Arlington,VA 22203

THUOT, CLIFFORD GERALD
CAPT   US NAVY
DATE OF BIRTH: 08/19/1920
DATE OF DEATH: 09/06/2006
BURIED AT: SECTION 6  SITE 8538-A
ARLINGTON NATIONAL

THUOT, CLAIRE R
DATE OF BIRTH: 08/14/1924
DATE OF DEATH: 07/17/2000
BURIED AT: SECTION 6  SITE 8538-A
ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY
WIFE OF THUOT, CLIFFORD GERALD CAPT US NAVY

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