Estes, Thomas Jefferson "T.J." - 1916-2002

ESTES, HIRLEMAN TINSLEY

Posted By: Linda Vander Linden-Volunteer (email)
Date: 10/11/2011 at 09:39:51

Northwest Iowa Review December 21, 2002

Aurelia - Thomas Jefferson "T.J." Estes, 86, Sioux Center, died Monday, Dec. 16, at Sioux Center Community Hospital. Services were Thursday, Dec. 19, at First United Methodist Church in Aurelia, with Pastor Jack Weida and Pastor Randy Widbin officiating. Burial was at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Aurelia, under the direction of Redig Funeral Home in Aurelia.

T. J. Estes, son of Thomas & Lois (Tinsley) Estes, was born Aug. 22, 1916, in Greenville, SC. He graduated from Mount Zion High School in Winnsboro,SC. He worked for a couple years, then joined the Canadian Air Force, where he received his training. He returned home when the United States entered World War II and joined the U.S. Air Force. He was a B17 pilot and flew 25 missions for the 8th Air Force. He married Patricia "Pat" Hirleman on March 21, 1944, in Chicago. He became a flight instructor for B29s. After leaving the service, he worked for his father in a furniture store in South Carolina. He and his wife then moved to Storm Lake. He and his father-in-law bought the grocery store in Aurelia, which became E&H Market. He operated the store until retiring in 1977. He worked part-time in furniture stores in Spencer and Storm Lake. He and his wife moved to Sioux Center. He loved to golf.

Survivors include his wife, Patricia "Pat" Estes of Sioux Center; five children, Ann Short of Des Moines; Bill & Pat Estes of Sioux Center; Patty & Dan Menke of Calumet; Tom & Doris Estes of Sioux Center, and Mike & Deb Estes of Traer; 13 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; a brother, Bob & Evon Estes of Winnsboro, SC; and a sister, Audrey Pope of Winnsboro, SC.

He was preceded in death by a son, Steven Estes, and two brothers, Defaux Estes and Billy Estes.