Thomas C. Dolson Sr.

Thomas (Tom) was born January 2, 1934, in Chicago, Illinois to Matilda (Tillie) and Russell Dolson. Tom grew up in Chicago and Valparaiso, Indiana. In his early life, Tom lived with two brothers, Robert (Bob) and David, and two sisters, Maryann and Susan (Susie). He always recounted growing up with an admirable and hardworking mother and father. He shared wonderful brotherly camaraderie and adored his younger sisters. He graduated from Valparaiso High School, class of 1951, and University of Idaho, class of 1956 on an NROTC scholarship.

Tom was described as determined, and he was certainly self-made. Tom developed a passionate admiration for the United States Marines during World War II, actually building a scrap book of Marine battles and victories. After receiving his degree, Tom proudly accepted a commission in the United States Marine Corps upon graduating Quantico Basic School 2-56. Tom went on to serve the first half of his working life as a U.S. Marine, nobly serving our country for 23 years. Among his many roles in his early Marine Corps career, Tom was a platoon commander of a weapons platoon, executive officer for a company teaching combat techniques, a supply officer and an artillery-battery company commander. The last two of those early roles included tours of Vietnam, in 1964 and 1968. Tom also graduated from the Army Command & General Staff College, Ft. Leavenworth in 1968, with honors, and The Naval War College in 1976. He was raised to the rank of Lt. Colonel and became Battalion Commander of the Second Battalion, Fourth Marines before retiring in 1978. During his service career, Tom was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal with Combat V and the Legion of Merit Award with Combat V.

Along the way, during his Marine Corps years, Tom found time to earn a Masters degree in business from George Washington University in 1966, which he put to good use during his second career. Tom became Vice President, Operations and Planning, for Anderson Greenwood & Co. and for Hoke Inc. He later became President and CEO, Nitram Industries in Buffalo and COO of MC Industries in Ann Arbor, MI. He subsequently was named President, Prestolite, Electric Vehicle Systems in Decatur, Alabama, before retiring for a second time in 1999.

Tom also made it his mission to marry his beautiful Judith (Judie) in July of 1962 after a very short engagement of less than a year, because he knew quickly, he had found his love. He became a father to Thomas (Tom Jr.) in 1965 and then Michael (Mike) in 1968. Tom was a loving and involved father, admired by his sons, and a devoted husband to Judie. Tom and Judie enjoyed tennis and contract bridge together, playing both often. They also loved to travel together, and over the years, visited too many countries in Asia and Europe to recount. Tom enjoyed poker and was an avid player up until his last years. During his final years, Tom lived in Frisco, Texas and organized a poker group of players that became so popular it outgrew his home and took on a life of its own at the amenities center. Tom was always a devout Christian, volunteering as an usher at his church for more than a decade, and he almost never missed Catholic mass and prayed frequently for family and friends. Tom gave to his community by tutoring children-at-risk in school reading programs for many years.

Tom is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years, Judie; his sons Tom and Mike; his daughters-in-law Racquel and Andrea; his grandchildren Elias (Eli), Avi, Lauren and Jack; his brother David; his sisters Maryann and Susie; his brothers-in-law David and Jerry; his life-long friend Maj. Gen. Jarvis Lynch; and many dearly loved nieces, nephews and friends. Tom was a great man who will be missed by many.