Tom Carter Trice

Obituary for Tom Trice Tom Carter Trice, 82, of Waco, passed away Tuesday, February 3, 2004 after a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s Disease. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, February 5th at St. Louis Catholic Church the Rev. Monsignor Mark Deering. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be Wednesday, February 4 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey. Tom was born August 4, 1921 in Lorena, Texas to Sidney and Myrtle Trice. He resided in the Waco area throughout his life. After graduating from Lorena High School where he was valedictorian and quarterback of the football team, he attended Baylor University. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps during World War II and was accepted into the Army Specialized Training Program at Johns Hopkins University studying engineering. After the war in the Pacific escalated, the program was closed and the soldiers were sent to Hawaii where he joined the 19th Troop Carrier Squadron. He was discharged in 1946 and returned to Waco. In 1947 he graduated from Baylor with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management and become plant supervisor for Crawford Austin Company for two years after which he joined Central Freight Lines as safety supervisor. Friends Frank and Ann Valentine introduced him to the love of his life, Mary Frances Gerik. The couple married on February 27, 1949 and would have celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary this month. They enjoyed playing golf, traveling with friends to many exotic locations to play. In 1955 he became a partner with Bill Hunt and E. K. McClain Jr. in Management Service for Doctors. He served his clients faithfully until his retirement in 1983 due to his illness. He continued to play golf and to hunt on his farm as long as his body allowed. Tink was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather, making family the main focus of his life. He passed down his love of golf and dove hunting, instructing his nephews and grandchildren on the finer points of each. He will be remembered for his easygoing nature and his ready smile. Survivors include his wife Mary Trice, daughter Rosanne Miller and husband Jimmy of Waco; daughter Pam Cox and husband Britt of Waco; sister Monette Trice Gingerich of Waco; grandchildren Mark Hamilton Miller and wife Jeannie of Dallas; Emily Miller Horton and husband Ryan of Arlington; Andrew McCartney Miller of Dallas; Laura Colwick Mooneyham and husband Rob of Crosby; Michael Trice Colwick and wife Michelle of Lorena; great-grandchildren Tessa Mooneyham, Hunter Colwick, and Alexander Miller; and a number of nieces and nephews. Pallbearers will be Rex Trice, Sid Ridlehuber, John Ridlehuber, Bill Falco, Tom Gingerich, and Marc Wall. Honorary pallbearers are E. K. McClain, Jr. and Chester Baxley. Memorials may be made to St. Louis Catholic Church, 2001 North 25th, Waco, Texas 76708 or the Parkinson’s Foundations. The family invites you to leave a message or memory in our ''Memorial Guestbook'' at www.wilkirsonhatchbailey.com. WILKIRSON-HATCH-BAILEY