Thomas L. Mewhirter, 84

Thomas L. Mewhirter, 84, West Des Moines, died Oct. 5, 2013, at Edgewater in West Des Moines.

Thomas was born June 12, 1929, in Griswold to Lee and Effie Mewhirter.

Thomas attended Elliott High School, graduating in 1947 and worked at various places in Red Oak, including the construction of the Eveready Battery Plant and Green Bay Lumber. He served in the U.S. Air Force and served in North Africa as Staff Sergeant.

His career in the photo industry began in Omaha at Calandra Photo. Thomas continued to stay in the photo industry and retired in Chapel Hill, NC (1996) while working for Qualex, Inc. Thomas and Betty moved to Edgewater in February 2012.

Thomas enjoyed family vacations, photography, world-wide travel, golfing, fishing and time near any beach.

Thomas is survived by wife Betty (Scott) after 63 years of marriage; a daughter, Debra Straw (Steve) of Johnston and a son, Greg Mewhirter (Jennie Kewin) of Tampa, Fla.; grandchildren, Adam Straw (Angela Schaad) of Hillsboro, Ore., Sarah (Straw) Paul (Brad) of Des Moines, Erica (Mewhirter) Stohler (Allen) of Alexandria, Va. and Kelsey (Mewhirter) Coppola (Dan) of Tampa; great-grandchildren, Abigail Straw, Andrew Straw and Chloe Paul; brothers, Joe B. Mewhirter (Barbara Milner) of Atlantic, Jack A. Mewhirter of Madeira Beach, Fla. and Jim R. Mewhirter (Martha Rickey) of Vancouver, Wash.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Edgewater’s Good Samaritan Fund (9225 Cascase Ave., West Des Moines, IA 50266). On line condolences are welcome at www.IlesCares.com.

A memorial service will be Friday, Nov. 1 at Edgewater at 11 a.m. and interment will be at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Adel.