ESTES, Thomas Jefferson

ESTES, HIRLEMAN, SHORT, MENKE, TINSLEY

Posted By: Don Blake
Date: 10/27/2007 at 13:30:00

1916-2002 CHEROKEE ARCHIVES

T.J. Estes, 86, of Aurelia Ia. died Dec. 16 2002 at the Sioux Center Community Hosp.
Funeral services were held Thurs. at the First United Methodist Church in Aurelia with Pastor Jack Weida and Pastor Randy Widbin officiating. Burial was in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Aurelia with Redig Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Thomas Jefferson Estes was born Aug. 22, 1916, the son of Thomas and Lois (Tinsley) Estes in Greenville S.C. He graduated from the Mount Zion High School in Winnsboro, S.C. Prior to the U.S.entering WWII, he joined the Canadian A.F. where he revieved training. He subsequently joined the U.S. Air Force. He was a B=17 bomber pilot and flew 25 bombing missions with the 8th A.F. having had to ditch his plane in the English Channel once.

On Mar. 21, 1944, he married Patricia Hirleman in Chicago Ill. He became a flight instructor in B-29s. After leaving the service he worked for his father in a furniture store in S.C.

The couple then moved to Storm Lake Ia. He and his father-in-law bought the grocery store in Aurelia which became the E.& H. Market. he operated the store until he retired in 1977. he worked part time in Spencer and later in Storm Lake furniture stores. T.J. loved to golf.

Preceding him in death were his parents, 1 son, Steven, and 2 brothers, Defaux and Billy Estes .

Survivors include his wife, Pat, Patty and her husband Dan Menke of Calumet, Tom and his wife Doris of Sioux Center and Mike and his wife Deb of Traer. Also 13 grandchildren 5 great-grandchildren , 1 brother, Bob and his wife ,Evon and 1 sister Audrey Pope, all of Winnsboro S.C. .