Joel Thedford

Joel ( Dick ) Thedford, 74, loving husband, father & grandfather passed away in the home he built 50 years ago after a long struggle of Lewy Body disease & heart trouble. Services for Joel Thedford, of Tyler, will be held on Saturday, January 6, 2007 at 10:00 AM at Stewart Family Funeral Home Chapel. The burial will follow at Cathedral in The Pines. The family will receive friends from 6:00 ? 8:00 P.M. Friday, January 5, 2007, at Stewart Family Funeral Home 7525 Old Jacksonville Hwy, Tyler, Texas 75703. Joel was born in the Dixie Community on August 16, 1932 to Hubbard & Vivian Richardson-Thedford. He was a member of the Dixie Baptist Church for a number of years. He attended school in Noonday, Tyler High School, Dale Carnegie and TJC. He served in the U. S. Navy as a Seabee in the Philippines and Alaska from 1950-1953. After his discharge he married his sweetheart, Wilma Marlene Camp, July 18, 1953. They were married for 53 years and had 2 children, Randy Joel and Marlena. His great-great Grandfather William M. Thedford was one of the original settlers of Noonday ,Texas. Having migrated to Texas from Georgia in 1850 with twelve sons and two daughters. He was also the g-g-grandson of Benjamin Thomas who was a citizen of the Republic of Texas , having migrated to Texas in 1818. He fought at San Jacinto under Sam Houston & Wm. Kimbro for the Texas Independence from Mexico in 1836. Joel worked for Texas Power & Light in Tyler & Lufkin until March of 1977 with 23 years of service. He then started his own business building homes along with his son and then eventually began to work as a power line contractor for T P & L until his retirement in 1996 while his wife and son continued to operate the business. He was associated with the Smith County Investment Group since 1984. He was always a hard & dedicated worker and very well respected businessman & friend. He was known affectionately as Dick, which was a name he gave everyone himself. He was best known for his generosity, love for playing dominoes, cards, hunting & fishing with his friends and most of all having his family and friends around. His children and grandchildren were very special to him. For ten years, his home was a Christmas show place with a live Santa giving out candy canes to all the children. Traffic backed up for a mile because of the lights and animated characters and Joel was always in the driveway or giving out the candy. Joel served as President of the Noonday Volunteer Fire Department for several years. He was a 32nd Degree Mason for 46 years in Tyler Lodge 1233 & currently in Henry Marsh Bell Lodge, Whitehouse. Joel is survived by his loving wife, Wilma, daughter & son-in-law Marlena & Ronald Bartlett of Flint and son & daughter-in-law Randy Joel & Kelly Thedford of Tyler. He was preceded in death by, parents & brother Jack Thedford of Woodbury, NJ. Two sisters also survive him, Donna Bacon of Oklahoma City, OK and Linda Jean Riddle of Houston. He is survived by 3 grandchildren, Chad Aaron Thedford of Tyler, Christopher Micheal Bartlett of Tyler and Eric Scott Thedford of Tyler. He also is survived by 3 great grandchildren, Collin McKenzie Thedford of Bullard, Kylie Elizabeth Thedford of Tyler and Brooklyn Nicole Thedford of Tyler. Also a very special buddy/nephew, Jr. Nunn of Tyler. Pallbearers will be Murray Lancaster, David Miller, Arthur Beeler, Glenn McTee, Steve Phillips, and Charles Oldham. Honorary pallbearers are the Employees of Thedford Construction Co., Inc. and Richard Anderson M.D. For more information or to express condolences, visit www.stewartfamilyfuneral.com.

Joel Thedford

August 16, 1932 - January 3, 2007