Thomas A. Waite

Thomas Waite, age 81, formerly of Silver Lake, Indiana, passed away on Tuesday, August 31, 2021 at 6:35 p.m. in I.U. Health Hospice House, Bloomington. Born on June 18, 1940, in Silver Lake, Indiana, Thomas was the son of Charles and Mary (Carr) Waite. Tom graduated from Silver Lake High School in 1958.  He attended International Business College in Fort Wayne and graduated with a 2-year accounting degree.  He also received a degree from Purdue University in farm management.  He served in the United States Army during the Vietnam War, honorably discharged in June 1969.   He was a member of several organizations including the American Legion Post #49 in Warsaw for 32 years, transferring his membership in 2019 to Bloomington Post #18; a member of the Warsaw Freemasonry Lodge #73-celebrating a 50-year membership in 2017; the Scottish Rite – Valley of Ft. Wayne-33 years; Lakeview Cemetery Board Member and a former member of the Silver Lake Town Council. Tom ran his own farm and owned the B & K Root Beer stand and T/W Motors in Silver Lake.  He worked for SLP Industries, Tri-State Harvestore, Wabash Valley, Rice Ford, and Kerlin Bus Sales.  After retiring from Kerlin Bus Sales (after 20 years), he drove the Lake City Bank promotional truck for many community parades and events for 9 years. He is survived by his wife, Nancy (Norman) Waite, Bloomington.  His children Dawn (Leonard) Gagnon-Silver Lake, Kent Gault-Bloomington, and Samantha (Mark Young) Rogers-Mentone.  His grandchildren Nicholas (Crystal) Gagnon, Christopher Gagnon, Jeremy Gagnon, Kailey (Matthew Miller) Rogers, and Justin Rogers.  Great grandchildren Conner Gagnon and Emmalyn Rogers.  Two sisters Sandra (Jerry) Tinkey-Warsaw, Nancy England-Silver Lake.  Many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends.  He received special support from friends Jim Conner and Don and Janet Helton.  A very special THANK YOU to his nurses, now and forever family, Jen, Dennis, Ronda, and Erin.  He was preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law Eugene England, Silver Lake, and his beloved dog, Katie Sue. A visitation is planned from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Friday September 10, 2021, at McHatton-Sadler Funeral Chapel, Warsaw. A funeral service in celebration of his life will begin at 1:00 p.m. in the funeral chapel. Pastor Terry Bradford will be officiating the services. Interment is private and will take place at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the donor’s choice of Silver Lake Lions Club, PO Box 293, Silver Lake, IN 46982; Lakeview Cemetery Board, PO Box 242, Silver Lake, IN 46982; or Silver Creek Church of God, 15252 E 100 S, Silver Lake, IN 46982.