Thomas Lloyd Maples
Born Dec. 11, 1929 in the family home near Oto, Missouri, third of six children.
Departed May 26, 2017 at the Clinton VA Center, Clinton OK, where he had been a Resident for 14 months.
Maples, Thomas L., of Crane, Missouri, died on Thursday, May 26, 2017, at the age of 87. Loving husband of the late Shirley Ann (Williams) Maples (deceased May 17, 2016); beloved son of the late Efton and Myrtle Maples; devoted father of Jeanne Maples (Dan - deceased) Schneider, Teresa Ann (Dave) Schneider, Kirk Randall (Toni Graham) Maples, and Carol Jane Maples; cherished grandfather of eleven and great-grandfather of five; and loving brother of Robert (Ruth) Maples, Dewey (Doris) Maples, and Keith (Anna) Maples. Thomas was preceded in death by his brother, James (Annamae) Maples, and his only sister, Mary Maples Powell.
Tommy, as he was affectionally called, grew up on the family farm on Crane Creek. He graduated from Crane High School at the age of 16; spent two semesters at the University of Missouri majoring in agriculture; then worked at the GM Fisher Body Plant in St. Louis, Missouri. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1951, was trained for the Signal Corps, and served in the Korean War managing a radio truck in 1952 and 1953, achieving the rank of Sergeant.
After his service in the Army, he moved his young family to St. Louis, where he again worked at GM, and become active in the UAW, the Plant's Bargaining Committee, and Democratic Party. Tommy retired from GM after 30 years and was then appointed as an International Representative to the UAW International Staff. At that time, International Representatives were not allowed to represent their own plants so he and his family were transferred to Kansas City, Missouri to represent a number of plants in the surrounding area. Tommy retired from that position in 1990, and he and Shirley returned to the Crane area.
Tommy enjoyed card games -- he had an uncanny memory enabling him to remember every card that hit the table. He also enjoyed visiting casinos with occasional substantial winnings, fishing, watching sports, and spending time with his family. Tommy was a strong but gentle man who had a natural ability to negotiate, solving many problems among workers and family. He was truly loved and will be greatly missed.
Funeral services will be Thursday, June 1, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at the Crane Presbyterian Church Crane, Missouri with a visitation from 10:00 a.m. until service time at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will be Wednesday May 31, 2017 from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. in Westrip Funeral Home Crane, Missouri. Burial will be at Crane Community Cemetery Crane, Missouri.
Born Dec. 11, 1929 in the family home near Oto, Missouri, third of six children.
Departed May 26, 2017 at the Clinton VA Center, Clinton OK, where he had been a Resident for 14 months.
Maples, Thomas L., of Crane, Missouri, died on Thursday, May 26, 2017, at the age of 87. Loving husband of the late Shirley Ann (Williams) Maples (deceased May 17, 2016); beloved son of the late Efton and Myrtle Maples; devoted father of Jeanne Maples (Dan - deceased) Schneider, Teresa Ann (Dave) Schneider, Kirk Randall (Toni Graham) Maples, and Carol Jane Maples; cherished grandfather of eleven and great-grandfather of five; and loving brother of Robert (Ruth) Maples, Dewey (Doris) Maples, and Keith (Anna) Maples. Thomas was preceded in death by his brother, James (Annamae) Maples, and his only sister, Mary Maples Powell.
Tommy, as he was affectionally called, grew up on the family farm on Crane Creek. He graduated from Crane High School at the age of 16; spent two semesters at the University of Missouri majoring in agriculture; then worked at the GM Fisher Body Plant in St. Louis, Missouri. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1951, was trained for the Signal Corps, and served in the Korean War managing a radio truck in 1952 and 1953, achieving the rank of Sergeant.
After his service in the Army, he moved his young family to St. Louis, where he again worked at GM, and become active in the UAW, the Plant's Bargaining Committee, and Democratic Party. Tommy retired from GM after 30 years and was then appointed as an International Representative to the UAW International Staff. At that time, International Representatives were not allowed to represent their own plants so he and his family were transferred to Kansas City, Missouri to represent a number of plants in the surrounding area. Tommy retired from that position in 1990, and he and Shirley returned to the Crane area.
Tommy enjoyed card games -- he had an uncanny memory enabling him to remember every card that hit the table. He also enjoyed visiting casinos with occasional substantial winnings, fishing, watching sports, and spending time with his family. Tommy was a strong but gentle man who had a natural ability to negotiate, solving many problems among workers and family. He was truly loved and will be greatly missed.
Funeral services will be Thursday, June 1, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at the Crane Presbyterian Church Crane, Missouri with a visitation from 10:00 a.m. until service time at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will be Wednesday May 31, 2017 from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. in Westrip Funeral Home Crane, Missouri. Burial will be at Crane Community Cemetery Crane, Missouri.
Thomas Lloyd Maples
Born Dec. 11, 1929 in the family home near Oto, Missouri, third of six children.
Departed May 26, 2017 at the Clinton VA Center, Clinton OK, where he had been a Resident for 14 months.
Maples, Thomas L., of Crane, Missouri, died on Thursday, May 26, 2017, at the age of 87. Loving husband of the late Shirley Ann (Williams) Maples (deceased May 17, 2016); beloved son of the late Efton and Myrtle Maples; devoted father of Jeanne Maples (Dan - deceased) Schneider, Teresa Ann (Dave) Schneider, Kirk Randall (Toni Graham) Maples, and Carol Jane Maples; cherished grandfather of eleven and great-grandfather of five; and loving brother of Robert (Ruth) Maples, Dewey (Doris) Maples, and Keith (Anna) Maples. Thomas was preceded in death by his brother, James (Annamae) Maples, and his only sister, Mary Maples Powell.
Tommy, as he was affectionally called, grew up on the family farm on Crane Creek. He graduated from Crane High School at the age of 16; spent two semesters at the University of Missouri majoring in agriculture; then worked at the GM Fisher Body Plant in St. Louis, Missouri. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1951, was trained for the Signal Corps, and served in the Korean War managing a radio truck in 1952 and 1953, achieving the rank of Sergeant.
After his service in the Army, he moved his young family to St. Louis, where he again worked at GM, and become active in the UAW, the Plant's Bargaining Committee, and Democratic Party. Tommy retired from GM after 30 years and was then appointed as an International Representative to the UAW International Staff. At that time, International Representatives were not allowed to represent their own plants so he and his family were transferred to Kansas City, Missouri to represent a number of plants in the surrounding area. Tommy retired from that position in 1990, and he and Shirley returned to the Crane area.
Tommy enjoyed card games -- he had an uncanny memory enabling him to remember every card that hit the table. He also enjoyed visiting casinos with occasional substantial winnings, fishing, watching sports, and spending time with his family. Tommy was a strong but gentle man who had a natural ability to negotiate, solving many problems among workers and family. He was truly loved and will be greatly missed.
Funeral services will be Thursday, June 1, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at the Crane Presbyterian Church Crane, Missouri with a visitation from 10:00 a.m. until service time at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will be Wednesday May 31, 2017 from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. in Westrip Funeral Home Crane, Missouri. Burial will be at Crane Community Cemetery Crane, Missouri.
Born Dec. 11, 1929 in the family home near Oto, Missouri, third of six children.
Departed May 26, 2017 at the Clinton VA Center, Clinton OK, where he had been a Resident for 14 months.
Maples, Thomas L., of Crane, Missouri, died on Thursday, May 26, 2017, at the age of 87. Loving husband of the late Shirley Ann (Williams) Maples (deceased May 17, 2016); beloved son of the late Efton and Myrtle Maples; devoted father of Jeanne Maples (Dan - deceased) Schneider, Teresa Ann (Dave) Schneider, Kirk Randall (Toni Graham) Maples, and Carol Jane Maples; cherished grandfather of eleven and great-grandfather of five; and loving brother of Robert (Ruth) Maples, Dewey (Doris) Maples, and Keith (Anna) Maples. Thomas was preceded in death by his brother, James (Annamae) Maples, and his only sister, Mary Maples Powell.
Tommy, as he was affectionally called, grew up on the family farm on Crane Creek. He graduated from Crane High School at the age of 16; spent two semesters at the University of Missouri majoring in agriculture; then worked at the GM Fisher Body Plant in St. Louis, Missouri. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1951, was trained for the Signal Corps, and served in the Korean War managing a radio truck in 1952 and 1953, achieving the rank of Sergeant.
After his service in the Army, he moved his young family to St. Louis, where he again worked at GM, and become active in the UAW, the Plant's Bargaining Committee, and Democratic Party. Tommy retired from GM after 30 years and was then appointed as an International Representative to the UAW International Staff. At that time, International Representatives were not allowed to represent their own plants so he and his family were transferred to Kansas City, Missouri to represent a number of plants in the surrounding area. Tommy retired from that position in 1990, and he and Shirley returned to the Crane area.
Tommy enjoyed card games -- he had an uncanny memory enabling him to remember every card that hit the table. He also enjoyed visiting casinos with occasional substantial winnings, fishing, watching sports, and spending time with his family. Tommy was a strong but gentle man who had a natural ability to negotiate, solving many problems among workers and family. He was truly loved and will be greatly missed.
Funeral services will be Thursday, June 1, 2017 at 11:00 a.m. at the Crane Presbyterian Church Crane, Missouri with a visitation from 10:00 a.m. until service time at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will be Wednesday May 31, 2017 from 6:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. in Westrip Funeral Home Crane, Missouri. Burial will be at Crane Community Cemetery Crane, Missouri.
Gravesite Details
Veteran
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
