Thomas Battle

Thomas (aka Tim) Hartwell Battle, 87, of Ocean Springs, died, Saturday, September 27, 2025.
He was born in Youngstown Ohio, the son of Thomas and Esther Battle. Tim graduated from Woodlawn High in Birmingham, Alabama and received a BS in Industrial Engineering from Auburn University in 1960. At Auburn University, Tim was a member of the Delta Chi Fraternity and served as an editor on the Auburn newspaper, The Plainsman. For his extracurricular activities, he was honored with selection to "Who's Who in American Colleges and Universities" and Omicron Delta Kappa National Honorary Society. His legacy in Delta Chi continues through his grandson, Alexander, who is also a member of the Delta Chi Fraternity at Auburn University today.
Commissioned a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army, Tim was stationed in Orleans France where he met and married the love of his life, Nicole Madeleine Saget. Their first son, Frank, was born in France in May 1963. Tim and Nicole moved to Huntsville Alabama in 1964 where he was active in the NASA Apollo Moon Mission until 1970. It was in Huntsville that their second son, Marc, was born in July 1968. During the phase-down of NASA's Apollo Program, Tim and Nicole moved to Ocean Springs Mississippi in 1970 where Tim worked for Ingalls Shipbuilding for 41 years in Operations and in Cost/Price Analysis. At age 68, Tim received an MBA from William Carey University.
In 1960 at age 22, Tim converted from the Methodist Church to the Catholic Church and for over 45 years he and Nicole were active in various Catholic outreach ministries-Cursillo, Marriage Encounter, Evenings for the Engaged, Kairos Prison Ministry, Renew, and ARISE. To prepare for each ministry, Tim constantly sought ways to align his will with God's will. To receive God's direction and power, he always strived to talk to and listen to God in prayer. To receive God's word and to imitate Jesus, he regularly read and meditated on Scripture and inspired Catholic literature. Tim considered each of his various ministries as a gift from God and welcomed the opportunity to grow God's Kingdom on earth by paying God's gift of his conversion forward.
Tim was predeceased by his parents, Tom and Esther Battle, his sister, Jeanne Edwards, and his grandson Michael. Tim is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Nicole; his two sons Frank and Marc; Marc's wife, Stephanie; granddaughter Madeleine, and grandson Alexander.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, October 2,2025 at Saint Elizabeth Seton Church 4900 Riley Road, Ocean Springs, MS 39564 from 9:30-10:30 visitation with service immediately following at 10:30am. Interment will be held at the Biloxi national cemetery.
The family welcomes floral arrangements from Lady Di's of Ocean Springs (228-875-6109). In lieu of flowers, those who wish to honor his memory through a charitable gift may do so at the St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church, where a donation basket will be available for The Society of Saint Vincent de Paul.
Southern Mississippi funeral services are honored to serve the battle family please visit www.smfs.us to send your condolences and share your memories. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Thomas, please visit our floral store.