Thomas Walker Rodman

By Staff reports

The Examiner

Posted Aug 28, 2008 @ 02:04 PM

Sugar Creek, MO —

Thomas Walker Rodman, 89, passed away Monday, August 25, 2008.

Thomas was born in Sugar Creek, MO and was a lifelong resident of the Kansas City, MO area. After 34 years service as a Mechanical engineer and Rolling Mill Department Supervisor, he retired in January 1981 from Armco Steel’s Kansas City Works. As an Air Force veteran of WWII, Thomas served as an aircraft mechanic and later as a B-24 pilot. He flew 35 missions with the 15th AF in the Mediterranean Theater. He retired from the Air Force Reserve with the rank of Major and is a past member of the Air Force Association and the Retired Officer’s Association.

He graduated as a Mechanical Engineer from the University of Kansas in 1948 and was a Registered Professional Engineer in the state of Missouri. He was a life member of the Missouri Society of Professional Engineers and the Engineer’s Club of Kansas City.

Thomas was a member of the boy Scouts of America, he attained the rank of Eagle Scout and is a Sachem in the Tribe of Mic-O-Say. For twenty years he was a Scout leader in the Wagonwheel and Pathfinders District. Thomas was a member of the Blue Ridge Gem & Mineral Society, the Midwest Federation of Mineralogical Societies and the Silver guild of Greater Kansas City. He also is a member of the National Model Railroad Association and the Blue Ridge Slide Club. He was a member of the Ridgeview Christian Church.

Thomas was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Virginia S. Rodman.

He is survived by wife, Marthajane Rodman, sons, James Rodman and wife Janet, Thomas Rodman and wife LuDawn, Jeff Rodman and wife Brenda, five grandchildren, Stacy and husband Doyle, Michael, Brad and wife Stacy, Brian, and Brent, three great-grandchildren, Logan, Ethan and Sydney.

Funeral services will be held noon Friday August 29, at D.W. Newcomer’s Sons Floral Hills Chapel, Kansas City, 816-353-1218. Cremation. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday August 28 at the Chapel. Fond memories and condolences for the family may be left at www.dwnewcomers.com.