THOMAS ROSS ELROD, SR., 76, died Aug. 17,
1996, with burial at Evergreen Cemetery in Ranger,
TX.
Mr. Elrod was born to Jesse Elrod & Lola Leugenie
Smith on July 16, 1920 in School Hill, Erath County,
Texas. He attended schools in School Hill, Desdemona,
Alameda and Ranger. Thomas was a graduate of Ranger
High School (1938) & Ranger Jr. College (1947). He
worked as an Assistant Manager, F.W. Woolworth Co.
in Breckenridge, Ranger and Brownwood. Mr. Elrod
served with the U.S. Army Air Corp during WW II.
He was stationed in the CBI (China, Burma, India)
Theatre. He was awarded Victory, AT, AP medals with
3 Battle Stars, Bronze Star Medal and was presented
a special Chinese medal personally by Chiang Kai-shek.
In 1949 & 1951, he received BS and MA degrees from
Baylor University, Waco, TX. He taught chemistry,
physics and mathematics for 30 years (1949-1979) with
the Edinburg Consolidated Independent School District,
Edinburg, TX. The Edinburg High School "Bobcat" Annual
was dedicated to Thomas Ross Elrod in 1956.
Mr. Elrod was a 50+ year member of the Ranger Masonic
Lodge #738 AF & AM and Eastern Star Chapter #275. Thomas
was a member of the First Baptist Church, Edinburg, TX.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jesse and Genie
Elrod; six brothers, Grady, Obie, Truman, Arlie, Garlan,
& Rex Elrod; and three sisters, Thelma Hanna, Mae Fair,
Azlee Kile.
Survivors at the time of his death include his loving wife
of 53 years, Dorothy Helen Mathena Elrod (RHS-1939) of
Ranger; two sons & a daughter-in-law, Tommy Elrod, Jr.
and Libby of Edinburg and Anthony Elrod of Joshua; one
foster daughter, Dorothy Eppley Boswell (RHS-1957); one
foster son, Eric Chapa of Ranger; one extended family
member, Madelyn Eppley of York, Pennsylvania; one brother
and sister-in-law, Loyd Elrod (RHS-1943) and Opal (RHS-
1943) of Eastland, two sisters, Mrs. Rhetta McMurray of
Abilene and Mrs. Dora Elston of Stephenville; one aunt,
Anna Mae Mathena Jinks of Granbury; two grandchildren,
Kristeen Elizabeth (Kristi) Elrod and Jody Ann Elrod of
Edinburg, Texas; one foster granddaughter, Debra Ann
(Debbie) Blackwell Bradford of Irving, TX; two sisters-
in-law, Wanda Elrod of Byers and Ena Hopper Byrd (decd-
2020) of Wichita Falls, TX; ten nephews; 11 nieces; 16
great-nieces; 17 great-nephews; 12 great-great-nieces;
18 great-great-nephews; three great-great-great-nephews
and four great-great-great-nieces.
Ross, son Tommy, & Dorothy Youngest son, Anthony Elrod