Thomas Patten Stafford

Thomas Patten Stafford (born September 17, 1930) is a retired Air Force Lieutenant General, a former NASA astronaut, and the first General Officer (Brigadier General) to fly into space. He is one of only 24 people to have flown to the Moon. Stafford was born September 17, 1930, in Weatherford, Oklahoma. Married his first wife, former Faye L. Shoemaker. They have two daughters, Dionne Kay, and Karin Elaine. They also have two grandsons, Thomas P. ... more

Thomas Patten Stafford (born September 17, 1930) is a retired Air Force Lieutenant General, a former NASA astronaut, and the first General Officer (Brigadier General) to fly into space. He is one of only 24 people to have flown to the Moon. Stafford was born September 17, 1930, in Weatherford, Oklahoma. Married his first wife, former Faye L. Shoemaker. They have two daughters, Dionne Kay, and Karin Elaine. They also have two grandsons, Thomas P. Stafford II and Andrew Alexi Harrison. He later married the former Linda Ann Dishman of Chelsea, Oklahoma. They have two sons, Michael Thomas, and Stanslav "Stas" Patten. Linda has two children from a previous marriage, Kassie Neering and Mark Hill, and four grandchildren: Sloane, Lee, Marcus, and Tara. Stafford enjoyed hunting, scuba diving, fishing,and swimming. He went on to graduate with honors in 1952 from the U.S. Naval Academy, Annapolis, Maryland, and was commissioned a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force. He received his... less