Capt. Thomas Walter Estridge

1923 - 2022

Capt. Thomas Walter Estridge (U.S. Army, Ret.)
January 26, 1923 - January 11, 2022
Columbia, South Carolina - Capt. Thomas Walter Estridge (U.S. Army, Ret.) of Columbia was called home on Tuesday, January 11, 2022. He passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his daughters. Tom was predeceased by his beloved wife Ilse, whom he met and married in Germany. Tom is survived by three daughters, Karen Crider (John), Brenda Estridge-Hart (Arthur), and Ingrid Watzka (Bret). He was greatly loved by his grandchildren, John Hart, Patrick Hart (Meredith), Erin Hart Yurfest (Jeff), Matthew Smith, Daniel Smith, Saxon Crider, Brittany Watzka Marchbanks (Ryan), and Johanna Watzka. Plus, five great grandchildren, many nieces, and nephews, and his "Cousin Jack" Lemonds.
Tom was born January 26, 1923, in Lancaster, S.C. to Olin C. and Sarah Estridge, and was the last of their 11 children to pass. He grew up in Charlotte, N.C. and graduated from Sharon Park High School in 1941. After graduation he attended Lees McRae College until the Army called him to serve in WWII.
Tom was drafted as a Private and served 22 years of active duty, retiring as a Captain. He received five Bronze Stars for various campaigns during the war. Tom was in the Second Calvary in the Mechanized Calvary (tanks) and did recognizance as part of General Patton's Third Army. During his first deployment he went to England where they waited for the Allied Invasion. He landed in Normandy on Day 6. He also fought in the Battle of the Bulge. During the war he marched throughout Europe, including Germany, France, and Czechoslovakia where they met the Russians at the end of the war.
Tom only reminisced about the good experiences he was involved in during WWII. One of his favorite stories was his regiment's rescue of the German Lipizzaner horses from the Russians which is portrayed in the 1963 Disney Movie, "The Miracle of the White Stallions." He also shared that on April 23, 1945, he was involved in freeing the prisoners in Flossenburg, a concentration camp located in a remote area of Bavaria near the Czech border. Afterwards, Tom and his fellow soldiers walked to a nearby village and bought raw potatoes to feed the starving prisoners.
After retiring from active duty, Tom spent the remainder of his career working as an administrator for the 108th Division of the U. S. Army Reserves at Fort Jackson.
Tom and his wife Ilse were passionate rose growers and exhibitors, a hobby which began in 1964. Over the years, their rose garden grew to more than 300 meticulously kept plants in their backyard. Tom was one of the founding members of the Greater Columbia Rose Society. He was also active in the South Carolina Rose Society, serving in various capacities over the years, including President. Tom was the Carolinas District Director for the American Rose Society (ARS) from 1985 – 1991. He was an ARS Accredited Rose Judge (later he was named Judge Emeritus) and a Consulting Rosarian. Tom loved sharing his knowledge of roses with anyone interested in learning.
Tom and Ilse traveled throughout the Carolinas and the country, exhibiting their beautiful roses, frequently taking top honors. They also shared their roses with family, friends, and neighbors. Visitors to their garden rarely left empty handed.
After Ilse passed in 2009, Tom began reducing the number of roses he grew and converted many of his rose beds into a prolific vegetable garden. At this point, his family began calling him "Farmer Walt." He gladly shared the bounty of his crops with family, neighbors, and friends.
Tom was known by many names during his life. To his wife, Ilse, he was "Walt." To his nieces and nephews, he was "Uncle Walter." His friends called him "Tom." His grandchildren and sons in law called him "Opa." To his daughters, he will forever be "Daddy."
Tom will be greatly missed by his family and friends. His death leaves an empty spot in our hearts that will never be filled.
The family would like to thank Lutheran Hospice for their support during their father's illness.
Dunbar Funeral Home on Devine Street is handling the arrangements. Visitation will be held on January 26 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Dunbar Funeral Home. A church service will be held on January 27 at 11:30 a.m. at the Fort Jackson Magruder Chapel followed by interment at 1:00 p.m. at the Fort Jackson National Cemetery with military honors.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Oliver Gospel Mission in Columbia, S.C. in Tom's name or to the South Carolina Rose Society Estridge Scholarship Fund. Contributions should made out to the South Carolina Rose Society and mailed to the SC Rose Society, 934 Buck Shoals Rd., Gaffney, SC 29341-5516 and note "Estridge Scholarship" on the check.
Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com.