Thomas Boone Baity

HUNTSVILLE - Mr. Thomas Boone Baity, war veteran, farmer and store owner, died Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2007, at Forsyth Medical Center. He was 91 and lived in the community of Huntsville. "Boone," as he was known, drove a milk truck before being drafted into the U.S. Army during World War II. Using his experience as a civilian truck driver, the army assigned him a new GM, an assistant driver, and the mission of delivering supplies to the front lines in France. He often recalled many of the perilous trips made in France, how he drove on narrow roads that wound around mountains in complete darkness to avoid enemy bombings. Boone had five brothers who also served in World War II and another who served during the Korean War. After his military service, Boone came home to Huntsville to his wife, Nancy Maynard Baity, and son, Thomas Wayne "Tommy" Baity. He began raising poultry in the late '50s for the now named Wayne Farms LLC of Dobson and opened T.B. Baity's Grocery. Soon after, he had another son, Stephen Gray "Steve" Baity. After retiring from farming and his store in the early '90s, Boone spent most of his time tending his small garden, entertaining many friends and family who liked to visit, and supervising the poultry business now operated by his son, Tommy. He loved to tell stories and remembered, with great detail, many important events of the 20th century. Boone is survived by his wife of 66 years of marriage, Nancy of the home; two sons, Tommy (Brenda) of Huntsville and Steve (Janice) of East Bend; three grandchildren, Kelly Baity Petree, Jeffrey Wayne Baity and Rhonda Baity Finney; seven great-grandchildren; and a brother, Fred "Smoke" Baity. He is preceded in death by his father, Isaac, and mother, Emma; six brothers, Russell "Russ," David "Dave," Robert "Bob," Henry "Bud," William "Bill" and Charlie Lee; two sisters, Cora and Polly. The family will receive friends from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday at Gentry Family Funeral Service in Yadkinville. His funeral service will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in the Gentry Family Chapel, with the Rev. Bobby Russell officiating. Burial will follow in the Huntsville Baptist Church Cemetery with full military honors by Yadkin VFW Post 10346. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Huntsville Baptist Church Building Fund, 4901 Courtney/.Huntsville Road, Yadkinville, NC 27055 or to the Yadkin County Council on Aging, 108 E. Elm St., Yadkinville, NC 27055.