Thomas Eldridge Minga, Sr.
(October 24, 1921 – March 15, 2013)
As a teenager, he became an Eagle Scout and graduated from Nettleton High School, May 1941. In 1942, he enlisted in the U. S. Army, and served in World War II in North Africa where he received a Purple Heart before being honorably discharged in 1944. He moved to Memphis TN. in1945. He married Mary Afton Weaver from Amory, MS the same year.He was a Civil Service employee for the Defense Department for thirty-three years. While employed at Mallory Air Force Depot in Memphis, TN he was the Assistant Director of Maintenance Engineering and involved with the development of various new weapons and equipment. This equipment included such items as a single point nozzle for refueling aircraft while in flight and liquid oxygen/nitric acid tanks used in the firing of missiles. He was present at White Sands, New Mexico when the first air missile was tested and when the sound barrier was broken by a jet sled. He received an Outstanding Performance Rating from the Air Force in recognition of his service in this area. He transferred to DIPEC (Defense Industrial Plant Equipment Center), in Memphis, TN, in 1964 from where he later retired in 1975.He was ordained as a Deacon at Second Baptist Church, Memphis in 1969 and served as a deacon at Iuka Baptist Church. In 1972 he assisted Bro. Harris Counce, then pastor of Iuka Baptist, in establishing a Christian summer mission adjacent to Coleman State Park where he and his wife served as Directors and Sunday School teachers for 39 years He assisted in organizing the Tishomingo County First District Fire Department and served several years as the first Fire Chief. He served as president of the Jacinto chapter of NARFE (National Association of Retired Federal Employees). He served as President, and Asst. Tour Director of the All-For-Christ-Senior Adult Club, Iuka, Baptist, for many years. In November 1989 he was honored for his outstanding service to the community by President George H.W.Bush as one of the Thousand Points of Light. Visitation is scheduled for 4 until 7 PM on Wednesday, March 20 at Cutshall Funeral Home in Iuka. Services are scheduled for 11 AM on Thursday, March 21, 2013 at Iuka Baptist Church, officiated by Rev. Todd Maino and Rev. Gary Watkins. Pallbearers will be Ross Maino, Glen Ray Harris, David Thorne, James Grisham, Pete Walker, and Earl Walker. Honorary bearers will be Art Gaines, Dr. Ben Kitchens, Doug Cutshall, Fred Truesdale, Randall Harbin, and Hosea Thorne. He is survived by his daughter, Charlotte Minga Coone (Cecil) of Byhalia, MS; 4 grandchildren – Joseph Todd Maino (Jennifer) of Marianna, AR; Gretchen Maino Austin (Brad) of Kansas City, MO; Thomas E. Minga, III (Trey) of Collierville, TN; and Thomas Ross Maino (Ashley) of Memphis, TN; and his 12 blessed great grandchildren Cayson, Griffin, Karis, Mylan, Addison, Hannah, Aubrey, Italee, Vivien, Kayla, Natalia, and Ollie. He was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Mary Afton Minga in 2011; his son, Thomas E. Minga, Jr. in 2000; and his parents, Walter Murphy and Lula Estelle Conwill Minga. Memorial contributions may be made to the Iuka Baptist Church Building Fund.
Cutshall Funeral Home, Iuka
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