Thomas E. Tudor

Thomas E. Tudor, 80, of Bucyrus died Wednesday, July 20, 2011 at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus.

He was born November 17, 1930 in Springfield to the late Lesley and Ruth (Sadler) Tudor. After graduating from Springfield Catholic Central High School in 1948, Thomas served in the U.S. Air Force. He worked in telecommunications during a service career that took him to California, Japan, Korea and New Mexico.

In Ogden, Utah, aboard a train bound for California, Tom’s Master Sergeant pulled him away from fixing a radio during the World Series to introduce him to a Lady Airman from southern Arkansas named Janie Mae Holland. That evening they had their first squabble over whether or not women were suited for military service. They later learned they were both bound for Japan and kept in touch even while stationed apart. After her discharge, Tom and Janie were married in Japan on September 1, 1953. They shared nearly 58 years of marriage during which Janie never stopped laughing.

In addition to his wife, Tom is survived by two children, Gela Tudor of Delaware and Don (Dawn) Tudor of Bucyrus; two granddaughters, Mandy Tudor of Erlanger, Ky. and Jaime Tudor of Bucyrus; and a half-sister, Wanda Emory of Florida.

Tom is described as a bullheaded Scotch-Irishman with a dry, always present, sense of humor whom you could count on to “be there” and be early. After his discharge from the Air Force in Clovis, N.M., he returned to Springfield briefly before moving to Ft. Wayne to work for I.T.T. He and Janie settled in Galion where he worked for North Electric as an engineer. He retired from Alcatel in Raleigh, N.C. Following retirement, they enjoyed a number of years in North Carolina where Tom took up golf. They returned to live in Bucyrus in order to be closer to family. He enjoyed listening to music and reading magazines, owning every National Geographic since 1958.

The Tudor family will receive friends Sunday, July 24 from 2-5 p.m. at Wise Funeral Service in Bucyrus where the funeral will be held Monday at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in Oakwood Cemetery with military rites provided by American Legion Post 181.

Memorial contributions may be given to the Riverside Spirit of Nursing Fund, Disabled American Veterans or Bucyrus Salvation Army through the funeral home.



Visitation:

2-5 p.m. Sunday, July 24

Wise Funeral Service



Service:

11 a.m. Monday, July 25

Wise Funeral Service



Cemetery:

Oakwood Cemetery