Thomas DeGerlia
East Alton | Save
Thomas E. DeGerlia, 90, passed away at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 2, 2014 at his home.
Born Jan. 21, 1924 in Alton, Ill., he was a son of Thomas Savidge and Gerturde (Pelot) DeGerlia.
He married Orlean M. Newcome Nov. 13, 1945 in Washington, N.C. She preceded him in death Oct. 23, 2009.
Thomas graduated from Wood River High School in 1941. In 1942, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps, and served during World War II in the South Pacific. He was a decorated aviator, being a tail gunner on an SBD dive bomber. A rural route mail carrier, he retired in 1982 from the U.S. Postal Service. He also worked for Olin Brass Mill and Carter Brothers Towing. Thomas was a whiz with numbers and enjoyed playing the stock market and helping people with their taxes. He loved playing baseball, and he was an avid Chicago Cubs fan.
Survivors include a son, Danial W. DeGerlia of Johnstown, Colo.; 3 grandchildren, Thomas Damon DeGerlia of Denver, Colo. and Matthew Danial (Brandy) DeGerlia and William Savidge DeGerlia, all of Longmont, Colo.; 3 great-grandchildren, Tristan Danial DeGerlia, Thomas Charles DeGerlia, and Gabriel DeGerlia; a brother, William Robert (Norma) DeGerlia of Wood River; and his girlfriend, Ida Mae Helmkamp.
In addition to his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Thomas Allen DeGerlia; and two sisters, Ruth Allen and Evelyn Vance.
Memorial visitation will be Saturday, December 13 at Paynic Home for Funerals from 1 p.m. until memorial services begin at 2 p.m. Pastor Charles West will officiate.
He will be inurned along with his wife, who was also a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis, with full military honors.
Online guestbook is available at www.paynicfh.com
Paynic Home for Funerals
