Thomas E. Stewart

Thomas Stewart’s Obituary Thomas Edison Stewart went to be with our Heavenly Father on Thursday, March 6, 2014, while residing at O’Sullivan’s Residential and Adult Day Care. He was 98 years 4 months and 6 days old…the oldest lived Stewart in our family’s history. Born on November 1, 1915 in Neshoba County, Mississippi, he became a husband to Eva Francis Walters on June 10,1939, and they had three wonderful boys, Paul, Jimmy, and Jerry, in the following few years. He proudly worked for Chrysler for 17 years from which he retired in 1979. Wood carving was a beloved hobby of his. He spent many hours in his shop creating works of art for himself and many other people. Sadly, he leaves his wife of 74 ¾ years, their three sons and their spouses, 6 grandchildren, and 15 great-grandchildren to follow when the Lord calls their names. Thomas led an amazing life. He faced great tragedy as well as many triumphs. In 1933, a tornado destroyed the Stewart home and killed his youngest brother and sister. In 1937, Thomas and his brother, Wilson bought Glaston for the Stewart family. During WWII, while working for Bell Aircraft, he built/modified the B-29 bomber before they were deployed for battle. Part of these modifications included the Enola Gay and the Boxcar which were used to end WWII. After the war, Thomas worked as the Plant Engineer for Mengel Company. April 1957, Thomas moved his family to New Orleans, Louisiana, and in 1962, he began his career at Chrysler as a Cost Estimator. Here he was fortunate and got to work on the Saturn V rocket boosters which put man on the moon. In 1969, Thomas and Eva moved to Dayton, Ohio where he expanded his interest in wood carving and worked in the automobile division of Chrysler before retiring in 1979. Upon retiring, Thomas designed and built a home for Eva and himself in Laurel, Mississippi, a place they both loved. People saw this house and asked him to draw plans for their homes, church meeting halls, and other buildings. Antioch United Methodist Church, on Lower Merrick Road, was a very important part of his life. He donated many years to this church to make it the best place possible. Thomas combined wood carving with his love of spending time talking with people to create Pioneer Carvers. With Star Reach, he influenced many children while showing and talking about his carvings. Thomas took great pride in his later years when people would tell him that they still have the carvings they worked on with him. In 2004, Tommy King, a Carey college alumnus, longstanding faculty/staff member and dean, asked Thomas Stewart to design and help make the Mace for William Carey College in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Just after Thanksgiving 2011, a big party was held for Thomas and his youngest son, Jerry. This party was to celebrate Thomas’ 96th birthday and Jerry’s’ 69th birthday. This was the last time our whole family was together and during this time we all got to hear the life stories of a truly wonderful man. The viewing was held at Memory Chapel in Laurel, and the funeral, officiated by Rev. Glen Freeman, was at Antioch United Methodist Church Tuesday, March 11, 2014. He will forever reside at a place he loved, Antioch Church.

Thomas E. Stewart

November 1, 1915 - March 6, 2014