Thomas Wayne Kemp, 70, of Gig Harbor, Washington, passed peacefully on Sunday, April 28, 2024 surrounded by his beloved wife, Carmelita, and his three children, Kelly, Ryan and Brandi.

Lt. Colonel Thomas Kemp was a proud veteran of the United States Air Force, a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, and has a long and distinguished aviation career spanning over four decades, thirty-five of which were spent at Alaska Airlines where Captain Thomas Kemp held many positions, including Vice President of Flight Operations. Tom loved flying, his family more than anything, and enjoyed life to its fullest.

He is survived by his wife, Carmelita Kemp, his son, Ryan Kemp, his two daughters, Kelly Kemp and Brandi Martin, and his five grandchildren, Kanon and Kabella Kemp, and Alohi, Kai and Baily Martin.

A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00pm on May 31, 2024 at Haven of Rest Memorial Park in Gig Harbor, Washington. A Celebration of Life will be held following the memorial service from 4 - 8 pm at the Gig Harbor Vintage Aero Museum at the Tacoma Narrows Airport, 1108 26th Ave. NW, Gig Harbor, Washington.

In lieu of flowers, our family graciously asks for memorial donations to be made in Tom’s name to the Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center where you can designate your contribution to pancreatic cancer. Tom had been selected to be part of a t-cell trial at Fred Hutch, which gave him a significant sense of hope throughout his treatment, and we would like to contribute in his name towards their ground-breaking work in the field of pancreatic cancer research.

Haven of Rest Gig Harbor  |  May 2024

Fred Hutch Cancer Research Center

Dan McCorry: It is with a sad heart that I inform you that Tom Kemp, our 35th Squadron brother, passed away Sunday evening, 28 April 2024, after a battle with pancreatic cancer. We don’t have any further details...but will pass along the memorial/funeral service information when available. Above all else, we don’t want to disturb the family in this moment of grief...but we are in touch with them in case they need our help.