Thomas John Root Jr., 74, passed away at his home in Irving, Texas on Feb. 6th. He grew up in Montana exploring the great outdoors with his cousins and sisters. Tom served as a Marine as an amphibian tractor crewman. There he achieved the Golden Gloves Championship and Marksman Award. He worked as a Service Technical Rep for Xerox/Cheshire/Videojet for 33 years. Tom enjoyed fishing and was one of the founding fathers of the Lake Vilbig Bass Club. He loved to build things and often manufactured the "proper" tool for the job. Many of his friends and neighbors can look around at the projects he helped them with. He was loved and respected by all who knew him. Tom is survived by his wife, Beverly, whom he loved dearly; his daughter, and son-in-law, Kim and Jimmy Hale, daughter, Kathy Root; granddaughters, Whitney and Cortney Swimelar; sisters, Sandra Pearce, Jennifer Ethridge, and Colleen Tope; many wonderful nieces and nephews; and his beloved Mastiff Precious. Graveside services will be held at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Pkwy, Dallas, Texas 75211, on March 2nd at 2:00 pm. The service will start at 2:15 but you must be in line in the parking lot at 2:00. The family invites you to join them for a celebration of life at his home following the service. Memorial donations may be made to the Vilbig Bass Club, C/O ILA, P.O. Box 171111, Irving, Texas 75017-1111. Please send the family condolences and sign the guestbook on this site. Arrangements are under the direction of: Aria Cremation Service & Funeral Home 1820 N. Belt Line Road Irving, Texas 75061 972-607-4400