Mr. Thomas Dean “Tom” Poston, age 88, of Mason, Ohio, entered this life on August 23, 1934 in Madison, Indiana. He was the loving son of the late, Arthur Raymond and Elvessa (Morrison) Poston. Tom was raised in Switzerland County until 1951 when the family moved to Anderson, Indiana where he graduated in 1952 from Anderson High School. Tom was inducted into the United States Navy on August 4, 1952 in Great Lakes, Illinois. He served during the Korean War Conflict and received the National Defense Service Medal. Tom was honorably discharged with the rank of Aviation Structural Mechanic Structural Airman on June 1, 1954 at the United States Naval Air Station in Alameda, California. Tom was inducted into the United States Air Force on May 12, 1959 in Indianapolis, Indiana and served during the Vietnam War. He received the Good Conduct Medal and the Air & Space Longevity Service Award. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Staff Sergeant on January 6, 1965 and received his commission in the Medical Service Corps on January 7, 1965 at the Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. He received the Meritorious Service Medal with two oak leaf clusters, Air Force Commendation Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal (Army), Air Force Longevity Service Ribbon with five oak leaf clusters, National Defense Service Medal with one bronze service star and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with three oak leaf clusters. Tom retired from the service on June 30, 1983 with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel at the Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. After his military service, Tom was employed as the Director of Medical Materials Management for Humana Hospital in Sebastian, Florida. Tom received his bachelor’s degree in general education from the University of Nebraska Omaha. Tom was united in marriage on March 24, 1962 to Barbara Jean Braun in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This happy union was blessed with two sons, Robert and Steven. Tom and Barbara shared nearly 61 years of marriage together until his death. Tom enjoyed traveling and mission work, as well as woodworking, home repairs and projects. Tom resided in Florida, Virginia, Ohio, and Michigan, as well as, Louisville, Kentucky and Mason, Ohio. Tom was a former member of the Fern Creek Christian Church in Louisville, Kentucky, River Run Christian Church in Melbourne, Florida, and Langley Christian Church in Hampton, Virginia. He was a member of the Air Force Retired Officers Association and Christ’s Church in Mason, Ohio. Tom passed away on Tuesday, February 28, 2023 at the Holmes Regional Medical Center in Melbourne, Florida.
Tom will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Barbara J. (Braun) Poston in Mason, OH; his sons, Robert “Bob” (Angel) Poston of Worthington, OH and Steven “Steve” (Jill) Poston of Greenwood, IN; his grandchildren, Genevieve Elise Poston, Rebecca Danielle (Bryan) Figgins, Caleb Thomas Poston and Kathryn Elizabeth “Kate” (Trevor) Osborne; his great-grandchildren, Audrey, Toryn and Roland; his cousins Dottie (Snookie) Wiley of Jasper, IN, Norris (Carolyn) Works of Bennington, IN; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his father, Arthur Raymond Poston, died June 25, 1956; his mother, Elvessa Thelma (Morrison) Poston, died January 7, 1935; his paternal grandparents, James Warren Poston, died April 12, 1901 and Amanda (Ward) Poston, died March 8, 1930; his maternal-grandparents, Louis Harvey Morrison, died February 14, 1937 and Laura Belle (Turner) Morrison, died July 19, 1946; his brother, Raymond Ward Poston, died July 24, 2022 and his sister-in-law, Vyrel Dean (Riffe) Poston, died February 1, 2022.
Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., Friday, March 17, 2023, at Christ’s Church, 5165 Western Row Road, Mason, Ohio 45040
Funeral services will be conducted at 12:00 p.m., Friday, March 17, 2023, by Pastor David Ray, Sr. and Pastor Brad Wilson, at Christ’s Church, 5165 Western Row Road, Mason, Ohio 45040
Interment will follow in the Vevay Cemetery, Vevay, Indiana. Full military rites will be conducted by the Honor Guard of the Vevay American Legion Post #185 and the Vevay VFW Post #5396 and the Ceremonial Unit.
Memorial contributions may be made to the TCM International Institute www.tcmi.org. Cards are available at the funeral home or online at www.haskellandmorrison.com
Haskell & Morrison Funeral Home, 208 Ferry Street, Vevay, Indiana 47043 is assisting the family.