Thomas Oscar Logan II

Tom was named after his Grandfather and was the oldest son but fifth child (yes, that is 4 older sisters, 2 younger brothers) of Richard Benjamin Logan and Harriett Elizabeth Petty near Inverness, Mississippi. Family obligation had him doing farm work for his Dad but he much preferred his work fixing cars with his Uncle Thad at the service station where he worked. Since he wanted to work with electronics and machinery he pursued and graduated with an associate’s degree in Industrial Arts at Sunflower Junior College in 1956. Around this time he came home one day to be told he had received a call from the local draft board. Thinking his time was up, he went down and signed up for the Air Force. Turns out they just wanted to know if he wanted to renew his education deferral. But he was now off to training camp.

He had been fixed up on a date by his cousin Roberta Harper with her best friend Charline Jones. Tom and Charline dated for several years and were married in June of 1957 just after his completion of training and before a year long deployment to Korea. He returned to the States and was assigned to the Dyess AFB’s Electronic Maintenance Squadron in Abilene, Texas. He received commendations, awards, and promotions, rising to Senior Airman in a few short years. He and Charline had their two oldest children in Abilene. He moved his young family to the big city of Houston when his deployment was up in May of 1961. Tom found work building overhead garage doors for a short time before being hired by a large snack machine manufacturing firm called Mira-Pak.

He advanced rapidly in the first couple of years and in 1963 was assigned as one of sixteen regional service technicians covering the whole country, however; his new region was the New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania area. So the family moved to Levittown, PA. His youngest two children were born there. He promoted again in 1967 to a position in the main plant and the family moved back to Houston. He continued his career and upward movement at Mira-Pak throughout the 70’s. He had a variety of positions in training, advanced repair and service, supervision, research and development and management. Tom was the manager of the rebuilt machines division in 1978 when it was announced that Mira-Pak was being broken up and was closing down. He entered a partnership with two other Mira-Pak managers to form a new company that bought the rebuilt machines division. Tom oversaw production and service while the other two handled sales and administration. All three of Tom’s sons work at this new company at one time or another.

In 1986, Tom was frustrated with his partners and decided to sell them his shares and leave. He then became partners with one of his former employees in a new company but still in snack packaging machinery production, service and repair. This new company was in Terre Haute, Indianna. Tom stayed with this company until he retired in 2000 and in 2003 returned to Texas with Charline and Rob to be closer his other kids and grandkids. They settled in Cleveland.

Tom travelled extensively for is work including internationally. Depending on his duties he could be gone weeks or, even occasionally, months at a time. When home, he did not really have much time for hobbies; instead he spent his time fixing washing machines, dishwashers and lawn mowers and doing home and car maintenance. When is kids were in high school and college he provided them with used cars, causing the amount of time doing car repair to skyrocket. He did teach his kids to fish and planted some vegetables in a back yard garden. He helped with scouts and little league when he could. He did enjoy playing cards and dominoes and he was very good – he remembered all the cards everyone played. He taught his wife and two eldest kids to play bridge to give him somewhere to practice, but we were never in his league. He was a member of the American Legion in Terre Haute and joined card and game playing activities at his church in Cleveland.

Once retired he set up a shop in his backyard and tinkered with used tractors and lawn mowers. His first love was always mechanics. And Charline. They were married for 66 years when she died in 2023.

Tom was proceeded in death by his wife: Charline Jones Logan; his parents: RB and Hattiebeth Logan; his siblings: Janie Moor; Bennie Sue Logan, Connie McClelland, Erma Joyce Jarrett, Jack Logan and Terry Logan. He is survived by his children: Thomas Logan, Paula Logan, Robert Logan, Timothy Logan and his wife Mollie Logan; his grandchildren: Dean Logan, Amberley Tankersley and her partner Eric Mendez, Shelbey Reutzel and her husband Aaron Reutzel; and his great-grandchildren: Carson and Riley Reutzel.

There will be a memorial service on Monday December 16, 2024 beginning at 1:00 pm at the First Methodist Church of Cleveland at 100 N William Barnett Ave, Cleveland, TX 77327.

In lieu of flowers, please give to fight hunger in your community.