THOMAS L. WALLING

Nov. 4, 1915 - Feb 6,
OTTOWA, IL - Thomas L. Walling Sr., 91, died of natural causes Tuesday evening, February 6, in the Pleasant View Lutheran Home, Ottawa, Illinois. Our father was born in South Bend, IN, to Leighton Cope and Mary (Szymkowiak) Walling.

He is survived by his wife, Mary A. (Nelson) Walling, Gunter, TX; and his first wife, Mary Jane (Jorgensen-Walling) Martin, Frankfort, IN.

He was preceded in death by his son, Thomas L. Walling Jr. (Rita), McMinnville, TN; and two of his sisters, Jessie Mae Thomas, Harlingen, TX, and Phyllis Oberfell, South Bend, IN. Thomas is survived by his sons, Ronald L. Walling (JoAnn), Ottawa, IL, Richard J Walling, South Bend, IN, Donn L. Walling (Zora), Frankfort, IN; and his daughter, Kaaren K. Alexander (Eddie), Frisco, TX. Also surviving are 11 grandchildren, Chris, Jenna, Amy, Alan, Aimee, Aaron, JT, Jeannie, Dana, Max and Spencer; and four great- granddaughters, Katy, Christina, Haileigh and Selby.

Dad graduated from Central High School, South Bend, in 1935. During that senior year he was elected captain of Central's track team. Dad also played with Central's 1934 State Football Championship team.

The next year he married his high school sweetheart and our loving mother, Mary Jane Jorgensen, on Christmas Eve 1936. Tom began his banking career in June 1937 with the St. Joseph Bank & Trust Co., South Bend, as a teller and worked his way up to serve as vice president. He then went into real estate with Cressy & Everett for four years and then returned to banking as vice president of Mortgage and Commercial Loans for the American Bank & Trust Co. of South Bend for ten years, then four years with the First National Bank in Valparaiso, IN, retiring in 1980 to McMinnville, TN.

Dad served in the U.S. Army at Camp Wheeler, GA, during the close of WWII in 1945. He also served as secretary-treasurer for the Danish-Norwegian Aid Society for 15 years and was the first president of the Roseland Lions Club. He was also a 32 degree Mason of Lodge #45, South Bend, IN, and the Warren Lodge #125, McMinnville, TN, Scottish Rite in South Bend, and was president of the South Bend Shrine Club in 1956. Dad lived his retired years in McMinnville, Issaquah, WA, Harlingen, TX, and Ottawa, IL. He was a loving father, and truly loved playing golf and euchre with his sons and friends. We all enjoyed his great story-telling and the special times we each shared with dad. We love you and will miss you dearly.

A graveside memorial service will be held in McMinnville, TN; a date has not been determined. Memorial contributions may be made to the Shriners Hospital for Children, Chicago, IL.

Published by South Bend Tribune on Feb. 13, 2007

03/09/2023 EJS .