Thomas Middlebrook Sr

Thomas was born on Jan. 6, 1921 in Whitney to W. T. Talbot and Lelia Agnes Morgan Middlebrook. As a lad, Thomas grew up going to school at Whitney and working for his uncle E. L. Middlebrook and his father, W. T. Middlebrook, in a General Merchandise Store now the Forum which included groceries, hardware, cotton ducking and mens overalls, piece goods, thread, mens hats, ladies ready to wear, shoes, infant and children's clothes, ladies hats and various other commodities. At the age of 12 while riding his horse, it ran under a tree limb and he suffered a compound fracture and spent many weeks at Scott & White Hospital in Temple where he was given special care by twin cousins, Jo and Dell Middlebrook. He lost a year of school at that time. He graduated from high school in 1939 where there was a classmate named Evelyn Frances Allen who he fell in love with and they both attended Hillsboro Junior College for 2 years and were married on August 13, 1941. In the summer of 1942, Thomas joined the Civil Service and received training as a radio operator, in San Antonio and Lubbock, TX and finished in Lexington, KY. Thomas was inducted into the army in late 1945 and received basic training at Ft. Sill, OK in field artillery where he received honors in marksmanship. In Feb. 1946, Thomas was deployed to Seoul, South Korea where he was a radio operator between the army base and the line between North and South Korea. Thomas received an honorable discharge from the army in Sept. 1946 and returned home to Whitney, TX. Thomas and his father owned he Middlebrook Grocery & Market from 1951 to 1960 when Thomas became sole owner from 1960 to 1979 when he closed the business and worked as a butcher, first to Doug Bush Grocery and later to Sharon and Randy Wood until retirement at age 80. Thomas loved hunting and fishing with his three sons, and loved seeing his tom-boy daughter get out in her Sunday best to play touch football with her brothers. As a avid reader, Thomas had a large collection of Zane Grey and Louis L'Amour books, appreciating the early western vernacular and beautiful scenery depicted in their writings. Thomas was a member of the Whitney Church of Christ where he loved and appreciated the congregation. He was also a member of the VFW Post #8571. Preceding him in death were his parents, 2 brothers, W. T. Middlebrook, Jr., F. M. Middlebrook and 1 sister, Ann E. Wilson. Survivors include his wife, Frances of Whitney; children, Thomas Lawrence Middlebrook, Jr. and wife, Deanne of Groesbeck, Sharron Booth and husband, Ronnie of Whitney, Gary Allen Middlebrook and wife, Lorraine of Aransas Pass, Charles Keith Middlebrook and wife, Karen of Laguna Park; 21 grandchildren, 38 great grandchildren and 5 great great grandchildren; sister, Sandra Mahurin of Benbrook, sister-in-law, Lelia Allen of Fort Worth; several nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends and wonderful neighbors.