Thomas Bryan (Tommy) Ethridge, age 91, died Tuesday, July 5, 2016 in Clayton, New Mexico.

Funeral services were held at 2:00PM on Friday July 8, 2016 at the First United Methodist Church in Clayton, New Mexico with Reverend Billy Rammage officiating. Burial followed in the Clayton Memorial Cemetery by Hass Funeral Directors.

Tommy was born in Tuxedo, Jones County, Texas on September 30, 1924, the only child of Thomas Monroe Ethridge and Florence Elizabeth (Jones ) Ethridge. Tommy was raised in the Stamford, Texas area. He graduated from Stamford, Texas High School in 1941 and enrolled at Texas Tech University that fall, majoring in Mechanical Engineering.

Tommy entered military service with the United States Army Air Corps on April 14, 1943, trained on the west coast, graduated from flight school and received his commission and pilot wings August 4, 1944. He was a decorated pilot and airplane commander stationed in England and France during World War II. On March 24, 1945 he was in Wesel, Germany for Operation "Varsity" when 59 planes were lost. He flew fuel transports for Patton during the Battle of the Bulge. The Battle of the Bulge, also known as the Ardennes Offensive, was Germany's last great tank offensive in World War II and the largest combat action in US military history. It took place in the Ardennes Forest in France, Luxembourg and Belgium and lasted from December 16, 1944 to January 25, 1945. He was in Europe on May 8, 1945 where he heard President Harry S. Truman's Proclamation of Victory in Europe. He retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

He married Billie Jean Foltz in Clayton, New Mexico, May 7, 1950 in the Methodist Church which is now the Herzstein Memorial Museum. They lived in Dalhart, she worked at Citizens State Bank and he worked for car dealerships until March of 1961 when they purchased the Chevrolet Dealership in Clayton. They owned and operated Ethridge Chevrolet for over 46 years, selling out and retiring December 12, 2007.

Tommy was a member of the Methodist Church; a lifetime member of the Masonic Lodge #869 in Dalhart, TX; a lifetime member of the VFW Post #3271; a Charter Member of the Elks Lodge #2865; and a member of the Lions Club. He belonged to the National Automobile Dealers New Mexico, Automobile Dealers, and High Country Chevrolet Dealers.

Governor Bruce King appointed Tommy two times as one of six members to the Community Assistance Council, an organization that supervised the spending of severance tax money to energy impacted areas of the state.

Tommy served two terms on PNM's, Public Service Company of New Mexico Consumer Council, an Advisory Board to the corporation.

Thomas B. drew the plans for, obtained funding for, and supervised the building of the arena at the Union County Fair Grounds. The Clayton Wranglers, WRCA Jr. Ranch Rodeo, honored Tommy and Billie Ethridge for years of sponsoring Pokey the Clown Jr. Ranch Rodeo on November 10, 2007.

He served as Chairman of the Clayton Union Finance Fund, forerunner of United Way, Founding member of Clayton Medical Offices, original member of the Clayton Golf Club- when the grass greens were initially installed, and President of the Clayton Union County Chamber of Commerce. He was chosen as Business Man of the year in 2006 by the Clayton Union County Chamber of Commerce.

Tommy enjoyed his family, hunting, roping, golf, and lemon pie. .
Tommy was a loving Husband, Father, Grandfather, and Great Grandfather and will be dearly missed by his family and his many Roping and Golfing buddies.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Tommy is survived by his wife of 66 years, Billie Jean Ethridge.

TWO SONS: Bryan Ethridge and his wife Ruby of Clayton, New Mexico and Brad Ethridge and his wife Bambi of Twin Falls, Idaho.

6 GRANDCHILDREN: Jace Chandler Ethridge, Sundari Michelle Ethridge, Chayna Marie Jones, Bryan James Ethridge and his wife Laura, Liberty Olivas and Nettie Jean Ethridge.

2 GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN: Elaina Olivas and Hayes Thomas Ethridge and one more on the way.

Many nieces and nephews and many friends.


Memorials can be made to the First United Methodist Church, 200 N. 5th Ave., Clayton, New Mexico 88415 or to a charity of your choice.