Tom “Papaw” Dye

July 3, 1926 – June 18, 2012

Tom “Papaw” Dye, age 85 of Monroe, died at 2:30 p.m. Monday, June 18, 2012 at Mercy Memorial Hospital.  He had been seriously ill for two weeks.

Friends may call from 2 – 8 p.m. Thursday and 11 a.m. until service time at 1 p.m. Friday at Rupp Funeral Home.  Rev. Jim Walker, pastor, and Rev. Eugene White, retired pastor of Bible Fellowship Church will officiate.  Interment will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery, Monroe under the auspices of Monroe Post 1138 Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Born July 3, 1926 in Monroe, he was the son of German and Florabelle (Pierson) Dye.  He married Annette Mabe on January 25, 1952 in Monroe.  Sadly, she recently died on May 19, 2012.

Tom worked for Ford Motor Company in Monroe for thirty years before retiring on July 1, 1980.

Tom was a veteran of World War II.  He proudly served in the United States Navy from August 5, 1943 to March 6, 1946.  He received the Asiatic Pacific Medal with 1 Star, American Area Medal, Philippine Liberation Medal with 1 Star, and the Victory Medal.

Tom was a member of Bible Fellowship Church and was a Detroit Tigers and Lions fan.  He enjoyed gardening, and in his younger years he liked hunting and bowling.  Papaw especially enjoyed spending time with his family that he loved so very much.

Tom is survived by a daughter, Joan (Robert E.) Elliott of LaSalle; a brother, Joe (Teri) Dye of Orlando, Florida; a sister, Lucy Wedell of Monroe; four grandchildren, Timothy (Stacy) Elliott of Newport, Jon (Jan) Elliott of Ida, Liz (Joe) Breckow of Gibraltar, and Thomas Elliott of San Antonio, Texas; eight great-grandchildren, Ron Elliott, Amanda Elliott, Melissa Elliott, Ashleigh (Andrew) Reko, Brannigan Powell, Joseph Elliott, Jennifer Elliott, and Nathaniel Elliott; two great-great-grandchildren, Alexus Howe and Aubree Reko, and several loving nieces and nephews.

In addition to his wife Annette, Papaw was preceded in death by four brothers, L.H., Curtis, Pete, and Eugene Dye; and a sister, Montana Lingar.

Memorial contributions may be made to the family or Bible Fellowship Church.

Online condolences may be sent through www.ruppfuneralhomeinc.com.