Harold Thomas "Tom" GOLLIDAY
GOLLIDAY, STULL, ROBINSON, HUBBARD, BELVILLE, GROSS, TERRELL, STRAWDERMAN, INGRAM, RINEHART, BUTLER
Posted By: Sharon R Becker (email)
Date: 8/13/2011 at 10:44:20
Mount Ayr Record-News
Mount Ayr, Ringgold County, Iowa
Thursday, August 10, 2011OBITUARY ~ HAROLD THOMAS "TOM" GOLLIDAY
Harold Thomas (Tom) GOLLIDAY was born on July 20, 1923 and peacefully went to be with his Lord and Savior on August 7, 2011.
Tom was born in Blockton, Iowa but moved to Mount Ayr as a child and has been a lifelong resident of Mount Ayr. He graduated from Mount Ayr Community high school in 1941. After high school he attended sheet metal school in Milford, Iowa. Tom didn't have a car at that time and would hitchhike back and forth on the weekends.
A short time after that, Tom enlisted and served in the U.S. Navy for two years at Bremerton, Washington, working as an airplane mechanic.
After returning from the navy, he worked at various jobs before landing a job with the telephone company. Tom always told the story that Burl STULL told him that if he would go ask Cora ROBINSON for a job, she would probably give it to him. It definitely worked out because he remained with the telephone company for 41 1/2years.
Tom met and married the love of his life, Esther HUBBARD, on August 15, 1952. He always told the story that a friend of his who was dating Esther bet him 25-cents that he couldn't get a date with her. He never got the 25-cents but he did get Esther. They were married for 53 years until Esther passed away on January 2, 2006. Two daughters and one son completed their family -- Joyce, Glenda and Kirk.
Tom's life was a life of devotion to his family, his church and his work.
Tom was a practical, thrifty man who provided for his family and most importantly, instilled a moral and religious upbringing and a strong work ethic in his children by the example of how he lived his life. Tom didn't believe in buying something just because he could afford it. He had his first new car at age 70 and never had a credit card or a debit card. His family remarked that they never heard him complain because he didn't have a new car -- in fact, they can't really remember him complaining about anything, except maybe the weather in Iowa in August.
He was a member of the Mount Ayr Volunteer Fire Department for many years and immensely enjoyed his friendships and service with the other men on the department.
He enjoyed often attending the Sunday night stock car races and his children would sometimes accompany him riding the fire truck to the races. Another fire department event the entire family looked forward to was the annual fireman's picnic at Fife's Grove.
He was a member of the American Legion and a longtime member of the United Presbyterian Church, serving as their treasurer for many years and as a member of the Mariners.
Those who will cherish his memory forever include his daughters, Joyce BELVILLE and Ray of Chickasha, Oklahoma and Glenda GROSS, of Lawton, Oklahoma; son, Kirk GOLLIDAY and Denise of Mount Ayr, Iowa; granddaughters, Andrea TERRELL and Joshua of Norman, Oklahoma, Angie STRAWDERMAN and David of Noble, Oklahoma, Natalie INGRAM and Drew of Omaha, Nebraska and Amber GOLLIDAY of Mount Ayr, Iowa; four great-grandchildren, Halley TERRELL and Hayden TERRELL, Emma STRAWDERMAN and Trenton INGRAM, and his sister, Leatrice RINEHART of Mount Ayr, Iowa.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Esther GOLLIDAY; his parents, John Thomas GOLLIDAY and Mae GOLLIDAY; his brother-in-law, Calvin RINEHART, and his sons-in-law, Hal BUTLER and Bill GROSS.
Services were conducted at the Watson-Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr, Iowa, on August 10, 2011, with Rev. Michael MADDY offciating. Musicians included Drew INGRAM and Fay HOWIE. Joyce BELVILLE gave the eulogy and Andrea TERRELL read an original poem entitled, "The Lighthouse."
Military rites were provided by American Legion Ringgold Post #172 and the Iowa Honor Guard Unit.
Pallbearers included Joshua TERRELL, David STRAWDERMAN, Drew INGRAM, Gregg CANNON, Brett CANNON and Rich COMBS. Honorary pall bearers were Jack BONEBREAK, Lee BRAND, Ken HEBENSPERGER, Dean FROST, Sam SICKELS, Bill STULL, Gaylan COMBS, Marc ROBERTS and Rodney CLOUD.
Memorial contributions will be given to Hospice of Central Iowa, Clearview Nursing Home and the Mount Ayr Volunteer Fire Department.
Interment was made at Rose Hill Cemetery, Mount Ayr, Iowa.
Transcription by Sharon R. Becker, August of 2011
Ringgold Obituaries maintained by Tony Mercer.
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