Extracted from the Pine Bluff Commercial (Pine Bluff, AR)
Thomas Atwood
January 12, 1916 - February 2, 2004
FORREST CITY -- Thomas Lamar Atwood, 88, of Forrest City (St. Francis County), died Monday at his home.
He was born Jan. 12, 1916, at Wesson (Union County), a son of the late Thomas Judson Atwood and Versa Blanche Stringfellow Atwood.
He was a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville.
He was a fighter pilot during World War II and when he retired became a fighter pilot instructor.
A mechanical engineer, he was chief engineer for the Union Carbide & Southworth Corporation and an instructor with the Crowley's Ridge Technical Institute at Forrest City.
He served on the Vestry for the Holy Cross Episcopal Church at West Memphis and was a member of the Church of the Good Shepherd Episcopal Church of Forrest City.
Survivors include his wife, Betty Strahan Atwood, whom he married in 1954; two sons, Thomas L. Atwood of Austin, Texas, and John F. Atwood of Orlando, Fla.; one daughter, Susan Shaw of Forrest City; one brother, Ralph W. Atwood of Salem, Ore.; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday in Memorial Park Cemetery at Pine Bluff with the Revs. Jason Holcomb and Michael Hight officiating. Arrangements are by Stevens Funeral Home of Forrest City.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Thursday, February 5, 2004