Thomas L. Ladd

Funeral services for Thomas L. Ladd, 88, of Pollok will be held Wednesday, June 26, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. in the Carroway Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend Travis G. Bundrick and Brother Jerry Browning officiating. Interment will follow in the Gann Cemetery.

Mr. Ladd was born August 28, 1930 in Lufkin, Texas to the late Garvis (Burnett) and Thomas Fred Ladd, and died Friday, June 21, 2019 in a local hospital.

Mr. Ladd started school in Apple Springs before moving to Lufkin, where he attended school at Central Consolidated, graduating in 1949. He attended Stephen F. Austin State University. While in school, he worked two summers at Lufkin Foundry. He also worked for Earl McLendon in construction, and with Leonard Richardson where he learned to build his house. He married Helen Modisette in 1950 and they welcomed their daughter, Brenda, in 1956. The three of them moved into their unfinished home in 1957, working to finish the house with the help of family only on Saturdays. Thomas believed Sundays were for church, so every Sunday he drove the church bus at Clawson to Allentown and the Keltys area picking up children along the way. He and Charles Golt drove the RA’s from Clawson to Texas A&M for a college football game. Thomas was ordained as a Deacon at Clawson in 1965, serving as a Deacon there, Memorial Baptist, and Keltys, until he became ill and could no longer serve as he felt he should. After his Deacon service, he served as a Greeter in the Children’s Department, which he dearly loved and served there until he could no longer “hold the walls up” as they said. Mr. Ladd is a member of Keltys First Baptist Church and he dearly loved his Lord and Savior.

Mr. Ladd served his country from 1952-1954. He attended Basic Training in Camp Roberts, California and Paratroopers Training in Fort Bennings, Georgia. He served in the Korean Conflict and ended his service in Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He returned to Lufkin and retired from Lufkin Industries after 43 years of service. He was a Security Guard 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and then transferred to the office, working in the Insurance Department. He headed the absentee program when Lufkin gave green stamps out for attendance. After leaving that job, he drove a truck for Drago for five years driving to Longview and the surrounding areas.

Thomas moved to Pinnacle Assisted Living on February 1 where he was cared for and loved by all the staff, especially his caregivers on the Memory Care side. He often referred to them as his other family, especially Hope and Dana. They loved him as much as he loved them. He also was cared for by Encompass Home Health Staff Nurse Jennifer and his “adopted son”, as he was referred, Scott Turner, his Occupational Therapist, who could get him to do things no one else could. Mr. Ladd’s hobbies included playing 42, fishing, but most of all he loved his wife, daughter, grandkids and his family.

Survivors include his wife of 69 years, Helen Modisette Ladd of Pollok; daughter, Brenda Ladd Teague and husband Thomas of Houston; grandchildren, Thomas Michael Hardage and wife Eurie of Longview; Kalyn Dianne Manzelmann and husband Daniel of Springhill, Tennessee; great-grandchildren, Rylie Apple of Longview and Jaxson Daniel of Springhill, Tennessee; sisters, Daisy Ladd Anthony of Lufkin, Ollie Ladd Bundrick of Georgetown, and Nita Ladd Lewis and husband Elvin of Richmond; and numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Bobby Rayford Ladd and BC Ladd; sister, Fannie Ladd Cox; brothers-in-law, Lloyd Anthony and Gerald Bundrick; and sister-in-law, Joy Ladd.

Pallbearers will be Kenny Modisette, Michael Hardage, Bill Anthony, Eddie Lewis, Darrell Richardson, Tommy Teague, and Scott Turner.

Honorary pallbearers will be Glen Cox, Berry Kidwell, Dan Cox, and Bob Moore.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Thomas Ladd’s memory to the Alzheimer’s Association, East Texas Regional Office, 304 N. Raguet Street, Suite C, Lufkin, Texas 75904.

Helen and Brenda would like to thank the staff at Pinnacle, Dr. R. Bachireddy, Dr. Cherry Matthews, Dr. M. Huber, as well as Bill Anthony and Kenny and Jeanie Modisette for all their help and concern during Thomas’ illness.

The family will welcome friends and loved ones from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday evening at the funeral home.

Memories and condolences may be added, and live webcasting of the services may be viewed at www.carrowayfuneralhome.com.