Tom Monroe was born at home June 29, 1941, to Charlie and Viola (Evans) Monroe in Sweetwater, TN. He loved playing football at Sweetwater High School and joined the U.S. Army immediately after graduating in 1959. He served as an Airborne Artilleryman in the 82nd Airborne Division, Fort Bragg, North Carolina before being honorably discharged after one term of service. He then moved to California where he learned to fly, spraying crops in both fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft. In 1968, he reenlisted in the U.S. Army to become an Army Aviator Warrant Officer flying UH-1 Huey gunships in Vietnam. After his Army service, he built cooling towers for several nuclear power plants throughout the Southeast. In the early 90’s he decided to follow his love of carpentry and started a remodeling and construction company in Augusta, Georgia. He retired in 2007 and built his final home in the mountains of Coker Creek, Tennessee.
As a lover of the great outdoors, Mr. Monroe spent a large majority of his life gardening. His work provided delicious fruits and vegetables for his family and numerous friends through the years. His passions included working with wood, spending time with his friends, neighbors, and family (especially lunch with his sisters), hiking the mountain trails, reading, and drinking his coffee black while watching the sunrise over Peels High-top from his back porch.
Tom is survived by his son Eli Monroe and his wife Allison; grandchildren Madeline and Wyatt Monroe of Southern Pines, North Carolina; sisters Martha Mueller, Camas, Washington, Vivian Galyon, Sweetwater, Tennessee, Linda Riggs, Conyers, Georgia, Lois Boyd, Sweetwater, Tennessee; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and other dear family members.
He is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Fred Monroe, Gresham, Oregon and sister Wilma Jones, Sweetwater, Tennessee.
Tom was a strong Christian man who provided a very nice home for his family and was a constant role model of what a true man of God should be. He will be greatly missed by all.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Hillsdale College at https://secured.hillsdale.edu/hillsdale/donate
