Thomas Whiddon

Rev. Thomas S. Whiddon went to be with the Lord Thursday, August 8, 2019. He was born on July 3, 1931 in Long Station, Texas to Samuel Bennett and Gertrude Whiddon. Upon the death of his father, he was blessed to be raised by Gertrude and his second Dad, Chester Arthur Adams.

He served a tour in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. Upon his discharge, he met the love of his life, Evalene Willis. They were married on September 3, 1950. Three days later he received a letter from the U.S. government letting him know that “his friends and neighbors” were recalling him to another tour in Korea. He always said that wasn’t very friendly or neighborly!

Upon his return and after recovering from a service-connected injury, he became an Ironworker which he pursued for the next 30 years. He helped build the Indiana Toll Road, Greers Ferry Dam, missile silos, numerous bridges and television towers, the NASA VAB building and multiple space shuttle launch pads, Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, and EPCOT.

He was a charter member of Ironworkers Local 808 where he was affectionately known as Preacher Tom. A man of steadfast faith, he lived out his Christian convictions on and off the job making himself available to anyone in need.

He had a tremendous sense of humor and loved telling a good story, especially about himself, that is if he could get it out without choking on his own laughter. His tales included his youthful exploits with a sling shot and riding a horse to school—his brothers and sister walked, by the way; or the time he worked on the campus of Notre Dame University where the foreman quickly found out he was no match for Mother Superior with her extra breaks for cookies and lemonade.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, a sister, and son Thomas Lee.

He is survived by Evalene, his wife of almost 69 years, his children Patricia Voelker, Johnny and Roz Whiddon, Donna and Robert Allen, Laura and Robert Wills, and Mary and Dave Taylor (he would have quickly told you he had no in-laws, and when he claimed you as his kid, you were his kid). He is also survived by his sister Eloise Fischer, brother Sidney Adams, 16 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great grandchildren.

Funeral services with Military Honors will be held Tuesday, August 13, 2019, 2 pm at Collison Carey Hand Funeral Home.  The family will receive friends starting at 1 pm.