Thomas Dailey

Thomas Dailey passed away on June 17, 2022, at age 89 after a fall. Tom was a loving husband and caring father to Jill Gilliland (Terry), Connie Rach (Curtis), Bob Dailey (Valerie), and Mike Dailey (Kris). Tom also felt blessed to have ten grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.

Tom had a heart for others and, even with a severe speech obstruction from cancer in 2000, he lived in selfless service to those around him. He was a Christian with high integrity and a deep spiritual commitment, which made him a wonderful man, husband, father, business partner, and friend.

Tom was born on January 1, 1933, in South Bend, Indiana to Harold and Lilian Dailey. He was predeceased by his parents, whom he loved, and his equally wonderful brother, Dr. James Dailey.

Tom embraced life as president of his junior and senior high school class, lettering 10 times in three sports, and was captain of the football team. He attended Indiana University on a football scholarship and became president of the Sigma Chi fraternity, where he met his Kappa sweetheart “Bonnie” Ruth Yvonne Dailey. After their July 1957 wedding in Bonnie’s hometown of Wilmette, IL and a honeymoon in Wisconsin, Tom and Bonnie moved to Sacramento. Tom served as a Captain in the U.S. Air Force Strategic Air Command for three years as a navigator bombardier on the B-47 Stratojet. Once honorably discharged from active duty, they returned to IU where they enjoyed their many friends. Tom served another three years on reserve duty, while both Tom and Bonnie received their master’s degrees. They continued at IU for Tom to earn his law degree, while Bonnie worked as a teacher to support them. They truly enjoyed their romantic, story book life at IU.

In 1962, Tom and Bonnie settled in the San Francisco Bay Area, where they devoted their lives to raising a family and supporting Tom in his 45-year commercial real estate career. In his retirement, Tom loved traveling with Bonnie, babysitting grandchildren, spending time with his family, and always working on his golf game. Tom was a shining star who touched many lives and he will be missed.

There will be a 12:30pm memorial service followed by a funeral reception this Saturday, June 25th at 400 Hartz Avenue in Danville (Veterans Hall Building).