Thomas Charles McMurtry, Sr., 79, of Lancaster, CA died on January 3, 2015 of complications from a stroke. Thomas was born to George and Helen McMurtry in Crawfordsville, IN on June 4, 1935 and attended local schools in Rockville, IN. He graduated with a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame in 1957. Thomas then entered the U.S. Navy where he was an A-3D pilot and eventually graduated from the Naval Test Pilot School at Pax River, MD. In 1964, he began working for Lockheed Martin flying the U-2. He then joined NASA-AFRC in 1967 and flew a variety of aircraft including the SR-71 and 747 Shuttle Carrier. He retired from NASA and flew for Wolfe Air where he piloted aircraft conducting aerial videography in the film industry and professional sporting events until he had a stroke in Jan 2012. He was nominated for Screen Actors Guild Award for Transformers 3. Throughout his life, he owned antique airplanes and enjoyed spending time with his family, especially through aviation and sports-related activities. Thomas is survived by his loving wife of 47 years Mary Louise Endres; eight children; nine grandchildren; and his brother George and his wife Margaret. Funeral services will be held Saturday, January 10^th at 12:30 at Father Serra Parish in Quartz Hill. Viewing will be Friday, January 9^th at Halley Olsen Mortuary in Lancaster between 4-8pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Carmelite Sisters of Alhambra or Father Serra Parish.

Tom was inducted into the Rox Alumni Hall of Fame in 2011.  Click this Hall of Fame link for more information.