Thomas Gotell, Jr.

CMsgt Thomas Gotell, Jr., U.S. Air Force (Ret.), will be laid to rest on Monday March 29, 2021, with viewing from 1-2 pm EDT and funeral services from 2-3pm EDT at Dickerson Mortuary, 4700 Rivers Avenue, North Charleston, South Carolina, 29405.  He will be interred on Tuesday, March 30, 2021, at 1 pm EDT, at Beaufort National Cemetery, 1601 Boundary Street, Beaufort, South Carolina 29902. As an expression of condolences and In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be sent to the St. Jude Children’s Hospital gift fund, Thomas Gotell, Jr Memorial Fund.  You are invited to view the viewing, funeral, and interment services via live streaming by going to dickersonmortuary.net and selecting the Facebook "f" icon at the top of the page. 

CMsgt Thomas Gotell, Jr., U.S. Air Force (Ret.), first born son of William Thomas Gotell, II, and Eddie Mae Gotell, was called home after a lifetime of unwavering faith, courage, and love on March 9, 2021. 

Thomas graduated from Calhoun Consolidated High School in 1965 and immediately enlisted in the United States Air Force.  He would go on to travel extensively throughout the Middle, Near, and Far East, serving two tours of duty in the Vietnam conflict, and both operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm.  Whether he was in northern Japan supervising snow removal on the U.S. Air Base closest to the USSR or on Shaw AFB, South Carolina, organizing airfield maintenance for tactical missions, Thomas was a driven and dedicated public servant whose professionalism and focus was only topped by his love and investment in family and community.  In addition to his war-time travels, Thomas also touched the lives of troops and families in North Carolina, Nevada, California, Misawa AB, Japan, and South Carolina.  After retiring with over thirty years of service in the U.S. Air Force, Thomas continued his lifelong mission of public service by starting a new career with the U.S. Postal Service. He worked an additional seventeen years, continuing to touching the lives of men and women at both the East Bay and Cross County distribution facilities, bringing laughter, grace, faith, and compassion to each person he encountered.

He is survived and mourned by: his beloved wife of forty-nine years, Eddie Joyce Gotell, his children LaTisha Gotell Faulks and her husband Andy, William Thomas Gotell, III and his wife Julie, and Adrienne Monique Hartwell; his grandchildren Lionel Norman Hartwell, III, Thomas Henry Faulks, Aria Marie Hartwell, and Ramona Marie Gotell.  He is also remembered and adored by his adopted brother by marriage Howard Lee Jackson (Detroit, Michigan) -- husband to Patricia Ann Gotell Jackson (deceased), and his siblings Kenneth Gotell, Harold Lee Gotell and his wife Berth Gotell, Geneva Liggins and her husband Eddie Liggins, Jimmie Lee Gotell, Willie Lester Gotell, Mareece Gotell, Sharon Denice Gotell,  Alma Jean Gotell, Cynthia Gotell Lewis, Lucy Gotell Rozier, Michael Gotell, his one surviving uncle W.C. Gotell, two aunts Majorie Bryant Boston and her husband Eddie, Mattie Bryant Stevenson, dozens of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins, classmates, friends, and coworkers.