Thomas Augustus Floyd

Thomas Augustus Floyd, 87, formerly of Beaumont, went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Monday, September 30, 2013, in Forney, Texas, from complications associated with Alzheimer's and a broken heart. He was born on January 13th, 1926 in New Orleans, Louisiana to Florence Ann Alley and Charles Archibald Floyd. Tom was a 1944 graduate of Peters High School in New Orleans. On July 27th, 1944, just after high school graduation, Tom was inducted into the US Army, beginning 22 months of active duty in World War II and becoming part of America's Greatest Generation. As an infantryman in G Company, 119th Infantry, 30th Division (known as Old Hickory), Tom spent time in England, France, Belgium, and Germany - crossing both the Roer River and Rhine River - and fighting in the Battle of the Bulge. Tom was in Europe when the war with Germany ended (V-E Day) and had started training for the invasion of Japan when the bombs were dropped, thus ending the war. To his last breath, Tom was proud of his service in WWII and would often lecture school children on his experiences; he also published his war memories and spent 21 years in the Army Reserves, attaining the rank of Master Sargent E-8 prior to his retirement. Tom moved to Beaumont to work for his cousin as an outboard motor mechanic and boat repairman prior to 40+ year career as a ceiling and drywall contractor first with Burt's Ceiling and Drywall and then with his own company - Alpha Ceiling and Drywall. After retiring, he spent several years as the maintenance/building supervisor for Cathedral in the Pines Christian Center and Christian School. Tom met his future wife Claire on a blind date and they were married shortly after on September 1, 1949, and was very active in the lives of his three sons through Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts. He was a member of Memorial United Methodist Church followed by 20 plus years at Cathedral in the Pines Christian Center, where he served as a Deacon, Elder and 4th Grade Sunday School Teacher along with any other duties requested by Pastor Dabney. Tom was also a member of the School Board of Cathedral in the Pines Christian School. Tom and Claire were also members of Calvary Baptist Church in Beaumont. They moved from their lifelong home of Beaumont in 2005 to live with their oldest son in Forney, Texas where they were members of First Baptist Church Forney. Tom was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 64 years, Claire Louise Morel Floyd - who died September 18, 2013, his parents, and his brother Charles Edward Floyd. Survivors include his sons Charles Albert and his wife Mary, of Forney; Thomas Allen and his wife Kathy, of Houston; and Steven Arthur and his wife Shelly, of Corpus Christi. He is also survived by his beloved grandchildren Carrie Floyd Cagle, Michael Floyd, Joanna Floyd and Kathleen Floyd Kopp and many nieces and nephews. Tom and Claire are also both survived by a special friend Jan Townsend. Funeral service will be 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 8, 2013 at New Hope Funeral Home, 500 East Highway 80, Sunnyvale, Texas with Reverend Jerry Griffin officiating. Burial will be at 1:00 p.m. at the Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery under the direction of New Hope Funeral Home. Visitation will be Monday, October 7, 2013 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at New Hope Funeral Home. The family would like to publicly thank the staff of Home Instead Senior Care and Three Forks Senior Living of Forney for their loving care of Tom. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association.