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Thurmond Edward Midkiff

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Birth	:	17 Jul 1924 Mount Airy, Surry County, North Carolina, USA
Death	:	5 May 2015 Mount Airy, Surry County, North Carolina, USA
Burial	:	Westfield Baptist Church Cemetery, Westfield, Surry County, USA
Coordinate	:	36.4753850, -80.4464010
Description	:	After a courageous battle, Mr. Thurmond Edward Midkiff won his final victory on Tuesday, May 5, 2015, with his wife, daughters, and grandson by his side. He was born to George W. Midkiff and Rosa Rakes Midkiff on July 17, 1924. Mr. Midkiff was a member of Westfield Baptist Church, where he served as a Sunday school teacher for boys and adults, chairman of the deacons, and chairman of the building and finance committees. He proudly served his country in Italy in World War II as leader of the famed 34th Infantry Division Rattlesnake Squad. He received a Bronze Star,... Read More	After a courageous battle, Mr. Thurmond Edward Midkiff won his final victory on Tuesday, May 5, 2015, with his wife, daughters, and grandson by his side. He was born to George W. Midkiff and Rosa Rakes Midkiff on July 17, 1924. Mr. Midkiff was a member of Westfield Baptist Church, where he served as a Sunday school teacher for boys and adults, chairman of the deacons, and chairman of the building and finance committees. He proudly served his country in Italy in World War II as leader of the famed 34th Infantry Division Rattlesnake Squad. He received a Bronze Star, Combat Infantryman's Medal, Victory Medal, Expert Rifleman's Badge, Army of Occupation Medal, and others. As VFW Post 2019 Chaplain and Honor Guard Commander, he took part in over 1,000 veterans' funerals. He served as District 11 Northern Divisions Honor Guard Commander and was named Comrade of the Year in 1996, 1997, and 2000-2001. He enjoyed speaking at area churches, schools, nursing homes, and city Veterans' Day celebrations. He also served as chaplain of The Gideons International Mount Airy Camp. His God, his family, and his country were the most important things in his life. After returning from the war, he was employed by Hayes Hardware, Harris Builders Supply, and John S. Clark Construction. He received Builder of the Year Award and Presidents Awards from the Surry County Homebuilders Association. Mr. Midkiff is survived by his wife of 68 years, Mary Ellen Jessup Midkiff; three daughters and sons-in-law, Susan and Pat Craver, Kathy and Robert Allen, and Sarah and Dr. Nelson Gardner; seven grandchildren, Wes (Ann) Allen, Will (Jennifer) Allen, Edward (Jennifer) Craver, Cassie Gardner, Maddie Gardner, Mary Kathryn (Gary) Patterson, and Elizabeth (Dean) Pinard; and seven great-grandchildren, Austin Allen, Layton, Lane, and Lexi Allen, Levi Banks, Lily Craver, and Alex Patterson. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers, Lloyd, Keith, and Jimmy Midkiff; sisters, Katherine Barr and Ramona Cheek; and great-granddaughter, Grace Craver. He is also survived by his sisters, Coleen Marion and Carol Mills. A celebration of Mr. Midkiff's life will be held at 3:00 PM on Friday, May 8, 2015, at Westfield Baptist Church, with Dr. Joel Stephens and Mr. Gary York presiding. The family will visit with friends at Moody Funeral Home in Mount Airy on Thursday, May 7, 2015, from 6:00 until 8:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Veterans of Foreign Wars, 142 Veterans Drive, Pilot Mountain, NC 27041. This area is mourning the death of Thurmond Midkiff, a decorated World War II veteran whose wartime exploits were followed in later years by his Honor Guard leadership at more than 1,000 military funerals. Midkiff, 90, died Tuesday at his home in Mount Airy, with a celebration of life service scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday at Westfield Baptist Church. “Thurmond Midkiff was one of the last of the greatest American heroes,” longtime friend Don Isaacs of Pilot Mountain, commander of District 11 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, said Wednesday. “He just means that much to me,” added Isaacs, a veteran of the Vietnam War. Midkiff was “honest as the day was long — anything he said you could count on it,” the VFW commander said. “Thurmond means a lot to the Veterans of Foreign Wars.” Midkiff was a member of the U.S. Army’s Rattlesnake Squad in Italy during World War II, a special unit operating within the infantry. Its assignments included testing German troop strength in advance of American attacks and ambushing patrols to capture enemy soldiers for interrogation purposes. But Midkiff equally distinguished himself later on as a VFW Honor Guard commander, leading military rites at funerals of 1,000-plus veterans over the years while also supplying solace to their survivors. “He probably has done more for veterans, and families of veterans, in Surry County than anyone I know of,” Isaacs said. Honor Guard members typically stand at attention during military funerals, regardless of weather conditions, providing a rifle salute and the playing of “Taps” in addition to presenting a folded flag to the next of kin. “He was always kind, always gracious,” Isaacs said of Midkiff’s Honor Guard service, referring to it as “great work for the citizens of Surry County.” “Kill or be killed” Midkiff had entered the Army at age 19 and in November 1943 headed to the European Theater on a ship bound for Casablanca in North Africa and some of the bloodiest fighting of the war. Combat, and death, was a way of life as the Americans fought their way across Italy to push out the Germans, Midkiff recalled during an interview in November 2013. “It was either kill or be killed — you didn’t have no choice,” the veteran said of experiences he admitted were difficult to reconcile in his mind later. “You don’t really get over it — you just put it behind you.” Midkiff had grown up hard, with his family initially living in the Flat Rock community where his father, George Washington Midkiff — a Purple Heart recipient in World War I — worked as a stone cutter at the granite quarry. His dad succumbed to an illness caused by breathing stone dust when Midkiff was only 12, and three years later after his oldest brother also died, Midkiff found himself the breadwinner for the family as its oldest son. He worked in a cotton mill in Virginia for 50 cents per hour, in a furniture factory, cutting wood, sawmilling, setting up pins at a bowling alley and other odd jobs to raise money. “I had a tough, rough life when I was growing up,” Midkiff said in 2013, “and I believe that’s why I got along so good in the service.” His military experiences from spending two winters overseas included sleeping outside in the cold without tents and waking up in the mornings covered with snow, crossing frigid rivers with water up to the armpits and having no dry clothes for replacements. Midkiff was assigned to the First Armored Division upon arriving in Italy, and subsequently to the 34th Infantry as a rifleman. He held leadership posts such as squad leader, and gained the rank of sergeant. His military engagements took him to such locations as Anzio, Rome and Monastery Hill, the latter being the scene of a major battle. Midkiff earned a Bronze Star, Combat Infantryman’s Medal, Victory Medal, Expert Rifleman’s Badge and Army of Occupation Medal, among others. After returning to Surry County, he worked as a project manager and estimator for the John S. Clark construction company before retiring. Midkiff was with the VFW for about 19 years, including serving as its chaplain as well as Honor Guard commander. He considered his work at military funerals the last gesture that can be made to show appreciation for those who served their country. “We might want the same thing,” he said in 2013 of those veterans still around, while also commenting on the inevitability of death for those from his generation. “The World War II veterans are fading away fast.” Written By Tom Joyce

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Thurmond Edward Midkiff's memorial?
Thurmond Edward Midkiff's memorial is located at: Westfield Baptist Church Cemetery, Westfield, Surry County, USA.
When did Thurmond Edward Midkiff death?
Thurmond Edward Midkiff death on 5 May 2015 in Mount Airy, Surry County, North Carolina, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Thurmond Edward Midkiff's memorial?
Latitude: 36.4753850
Longitude: -80.4464010

Family Members:

Parent

George Washington Midkiff Jr.

(1892 - 1936)

Rosa Jane Rakes Midkiff

(1898 - 1961)

Spouse

Mary Ellen Jessup Midkiff

(1927 - 2020)

Siblings

Lloyd G. Midkiff

(1920 - 1939)

Naomi Katherine Midkiff Barr

(1922 - 1987)

Viola Midkiff

(1923 - 1923)

Ramona Lou Midkiff Cheek

(1928 - 1969)

James Charles “Pops” Midkiff

(1930 - 2004)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Westfield Baptist Church Cemetery
Westfield, Surry County, USA
Coordinate: 36.4753850, -80.4464010

2. Westfield Friends Cemetery
Westfield, Surry County, USA
Coordinate: 36.4687220, -80.4527220

3. Inman Cemetery
Westfield, Surry County, USA
Coordinate: 36.4835790, -80.4531080

4. Adams Family Cemetery
Surry County, USA
Coordinate: 36.4765278, -80.4665833

5. Hunter Cemetery
Surry County, USA
Coordinate: 36.4566994, -80.4700012

6. True Word Baptist Church Cemetery
Westfield, Surry County, USA
Coordinate: 36.4807560, -80.4793860

7. Simmons Family Cemetery
Pilot Mountain, Surry County, USA
Coordinate: 36.4809840, -80.4834370

8. Waugh Cemetery
Westfield, Surry County, USA
Coordinate: 36.4413986, -80.4480972

9. Beasley Cemetery
Johnstown, Stokes County, USA
Coordinate: 36.4831009, -80.4044037

10. Jessup Family Cemetery
Asbury, Stokes County, USA
Coordinate: 36.5066000, -80.4214200

11. Word of God Baptist Church Cemetery
Asbury, Stokes County, USA
Coordinate: 36.5108000, -80.4264880

12. Albion Community Church Cemetery
Albion, Surry County, USA
Coordinate: 36.5152400, -80.4496760

13. Nunn Cemetery
Johnstown, Stokes County, USA
Coordinate: 36.4749985, -80.3964005

14. Hills Village Family Cemetery
Hills Grove, Surry County, USA
Coordinate: 36.4352200, -80.4594500

15. Flippin-Lawson Cemetery
Asbury, Stokes County, USA
Coordinate: 36.5179690, -80.4318440

16. Albion Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery
Albion, Surry County, USA
Coordinate: 36.5199660, -80.4493940

17. Jessup Grove Baptist Church Cemetery
Pilot Mountain, Surry County, USA
Coordinate: 36.4432780, -80.4865280

18. McDaniel Family Cemetery
Pilot Mountain, Surry County, USA
Coordinate: 36.4285800, -80.4560500

19. Jessup Family Cemetery
Pilot Mountain, Surry County, USA
Coordinate: 36.4282990, -80.4563980

20. Jessup Cemetery
Asbury, Stokes County, USA
Coordinate: 36.5199210, -80.4240580

21. Collins Family Cemetery
Johnstown, Stokes County, USA
Coordinate: 36.4960220, -80.3908490

22. Pine Ridge Presbyterian Church Cemetery
Pilot Mountain, Surry County, USA
Coordinate: 36.4537700, -80.5030000

23. Slate Cemetery
Asbury, Stokes County, USA
Coordinate: 36.5225300, -80.4242400

24. Simmons Family Cemetery
Pilot Mountain, Surry County, USA
Coordinate: 36.4463110, -80.4982480