Thomas B. Ethridge, age 91, died Tuesday, July 5, 2016 in Clayton, New Mexico.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, July 8, 2016 at the First United Methodist Church in Clayton, New Mexico with Rev. Billy Rammage, officiating. Burial will follow in the Clayton Memorial Cemetery by Hass Funeral Directors.
Thomas B. Ethridge was born on September 30, 1924 in Tuxedo, Texas to Thomas M. Ethridge and Florence (Jones) Ethridge. Tommy was raised in the Stamford, Texas area and graduated from Stamford High School in 1941 and studied at Texas Tech University from 1941 until January of 1943 when he left school to join the military. Tommy served as a pilot in the United States Army Air Corps during WWII on March 24, 1945 he was in Wesel, Germany for Operation “Varsity” and they lost 59 planes. Tommy went on to serve in many more missions during WWII. After the war, Tommy married Billie Jean (Foltz) Ethridge on May 7, 1950 in Clayton, New Mexico in the Methodist Church which is now the Herzstein Museum. He owned and operated Ethridge Chevrolet in Clayton for 48 years before he retired. Tommy loved to play golf and team rope. He was preceded in death by his parents.
SURVIVORS:
WIFE: Billie J. Ethridge of Clayton, New Mexico.
2 SONS: Bryan Ethridge and his wife Ruby of Clayton, New Mexico and Brad Ethridge and his wife Bambi of Twin Falls, Idaho.
6 GRANDCHILDREN: Jace Chandler Ethridge, Sundari Michelle Ethridge, Chayna Marie Jones, Bryan James Ethridge and his wife Laura, Liberty Olivas and Nettie Jean Ethridge.
2 GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN: Elaine Olivas and Hayes Thomas and one more on the way.
And many friends.
