Paul Thomas "Tom" Umphress, 70, of Greenwood, SC and formerly of the Atlanta, GA area, husband of Carol Thacher Umphress, died Monday, November 6, 2017 at his home of advanced heart failure.

Born in St Albans, VT, he was the son of the late Paul Jones and Martha Smith Umphress. Tom was a U.S. Army veteran, Special Forces (Green Beret) attached to the 173rd Airborne Brigade during the Vietnam War. During his tour in Vietnam, he received the Purple Heart, which is awarded to those who are wounded in combat. Other military honors include The Bronze Star, The Air Medal, The Army Commendation Medal (one Oak Leaf Cluster), Parachute Badge, Vietnam Service Medal, Overseas Service Bars, Combat Infantryman Badge, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and National Defense Service Medal.

He began his career with the City of Atlanta Police Department as a patrol officer in uniformed field operations in 1973. While working for the city, Tom earned a degree in Criminal Justice from Georgia State University. During his career with the police department, Tom held various supervisory positions in uniformed and criminal investigations, including a challenging assignment in narcotics. He retired in 1995 with the rank of Lieutenant, which saw him as a highly respected watch commander in the high crime Precinct Zone 3.

Tom was an avid golfer as a member of Summit Chase Country club in Snellville, GA, before moving to SC in 2008, where he continued to enjoy golf as a member of Grand Harbor Golf Club in Ninety Six, SC.

Surviving are his wife, Carol; his son, Paul Thomas "P.T." Umphress, Jr. of Atlanta, GA; his daughter Jennifer O'Leary and her husband, Robert, of Tampa, FL; and his grandchildren, MacLaine, Madison and Marin O'Leary.

A celebration of Tom's life will be held at 3:00 PM on Saturday, November 18, 2017, at the clubhouse of The Patriot Golf Course at Grand Harbor with Dr. Toby Frost officiating. Military honors will be performed.

Country club attire is requested.

The family is at the home.

Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, 4217 Park Place Ct., Glen Allen, VA 23060-9979 or by visiting www.heart.org .