Thomas C. Both
Thomas C. Both, age 89, of Hot Springs, died May 7, 2018, of complications of pneumonia.
He was born Aug. 12, 1928, in Berwyn, Ill., to Joseph Zoltan Both and Othillie Frolick Both, the second of seven children. He grew up in LaGrange, Ill., graduating from Lyons Township High School in 1946, and attending Lyons Township Junior College, then Northwestern University in Chicago, majoring in economics.
He began a 45-year career with Reynolds Metals Company at the plant in LaGrange. Tom was a “company man” through and through. He was quickly promoted up the line and became the youngest person in Reynolds history to be appointed to the plant manager position. His career took him from LaGrange, Ill., to Chester, Pa., to Longview, Wash., and to Hot Springs, Ark., where he served as plant manager of the Malvern/Hot Springs Cable Plant until his retirement in 1991.
In 1952, Tom married Barbara Ann Briggs of LaGrange, Ill., and they raised a family of two sons, Tom M. and David. While their boys were young, Tom served as assistant Boy Scout Master and was very active in the youth programs of the United Methodist Church. Following his retirement, Tom and Barbara enjoyed traveling Europe, taking cruises and playing golf wherever their travels took them. Barbara died of complications of ALS shortly before they celebrated 50 years of marriage. In 2004, Tom married Suzy Lewis and they were able to continue his travels until he became too ill with Alzheimer’s Disease to continue.
Tom was a proud patriot, a staunch conservative and a supporter of whatever community he lived in. He served on the boards of United Way in Chatham, Del., Longview, Wash., and Hot Springs, Ark., where he also served on the Board of the YMCA. He was a member of the Army Reserves for eight years, as well as First United Methodist Church, Hot Springs Country Club, Garland County Republicans and Garland County Master Gardeners. A tall, handsome man with beautiful silver hair, he was always gentlemanly, meticulous in his dress, grooming and habits. He loved being on the water, in the sun, playing golf, traveling with family and friends and planting trees. As his illness progressed in later years, he looked forward to going to The Caring Place and dancing with all the ladies, especially his special partner, Margaret. He was not always right, but never wrong.
Predeceased by his parents; his beloved first wife, Barbara; older brother, Joe Jr. (Beverly), of Virginia; sister, Mary Ann Kuhlman (Jack), of Chicago and Florida; sister, Dorothy Stevenson (Joe), of St. Louis, Mo.; sister, Lynn Monroe, of North Carolina; and granddaughter, Kelly Both, of Seattle, Wash.
He is survived by his second wife, Suzy Lewis Both, of Hot Springs; his son, David Both, of Longview, Wash.; son, Tom M. Both (Judy), of Gig Harbor, Wash.; sister, Jean Wadsworth, of Yorkville, Ill., and Charlotte, N.C.; stepson, Patrick Lewis, of Bentonville, Ark.; three granddaughters in Washington State; three granddaughters in Bentonville, Ark.; nine great-grandchildren; his brother, Don Both (Ellen), of Charlotte, N.C.; and many well-loved nieces and nephews.
A celebration of Tom’s life will be held 10 a.m. Thursday at Caruth-Hale Funeral Home with the Rev. David Wilson officiating.
The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorials in Tom’s name be made to The Caring Place, 101 Ouachita Ave., Hot Springs, AR 71901; Arkansas Hospice, 14 Parkstone Circle, North Little Rock, AR 72116; or First United Methodist Church, 1100 Central Ave., Hot Springs, AR 71901.
Guests may register at http://www.caruth-hale.com.