Thomas Benjamin “Benjie” McKinney
May 5, 1918 - November 7, 2012
Services for Thomas Benjamin “Benjie” McKinney, 94, of Tyler (formerly of Diboll), will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, November 12, 2012 in the Gipson Funeral Home Chapel, with Bro. Jerry Chandler and Bob Brown officiating. Interment will follow in the Garden of Memories Memorial Park.
Mr. McKinney died peacefully at his home on Wednesday, November 7, 2012. He was born in Moffett, Texas on May 5, 1918 to William Matt and Felicia (McCarty) McKinney.
Mr. McKinney was a member of Burke Baptist Church and also served on the Burke City Council. He was employed with Texas Power & Light Company in Lufkin and retired after 35 years. He served as a Master Sergeant in the United States Air Force during World War II.
Survivors include his wife of 66 years, Louise McKinney of Tyler; daughter and son-in-law, Suzanne and Dewayne Norris of Tyler; grandson, Rodney Norris and wife Tiffany of Tyler; granddaughter, Christy Kennedy and husband Michael of Tyler; sisters, Ruth Tidwell and Marie Lewis; nephew, William Leon Tidwell of Lufkin; 6 great-grandchildren, Lexi and Taylor Norris, Austin, Addison, Aaron and Amanda Kennedy; and a number of other family members.
Pallbearers will be Arthur Beelor, Joe Bob Thigpen, Jack Jenkins, Larry Frank Jansen, Charles Mann and J. D. Kee.
The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. until service time on Monday at Gipson Funeral Home.
Condolences may be offered at www.gipsonfuneralhome.com.
Services have been placed in the trust of Gipson Funeral Home.