Obit: Stubblefield, Thomas Blair (1943 - 2010)

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 
 

Surnames: Stubblefield, Blair, Chura 
 

----Source: Thorp Courier (Thorp, Clark Co., WI.) March 17, 2010 
 

Stubblefield, Thomas Blair (8 May 1943 - 14 March 2010) With Flag 
 

Thomas Blair Stubblefield, 66, of McHenry, IL died Sunday, March 14, 2010, of ALS, at his home surrounded by his loving wife and sons.  He fought the disease bravely for approximately five years. 
 

Tom was born on May 8, 1943, in Aurora, IL, to the late Earle and Minnie (Blair) Stubblefield.  On November 17, 1973, he married Captain Virginia "Ginny" Chura at the Former Castle AFB, CA where they were both Air Force officers. 
 

Tom attended Young and Bardwell grammar schools in Aurora. The family built a new home in Oswego where he completed junior and senior high school. While in high school and college, he worked at Paramount Heights Grocery Store in Montgomery.  He loved working with people and enjoyed when he could be of help, especially to the elderly and handicapped.  He graduated from Northern Illinois University and worked as an accountant in Rockford for one year prior to enlisting in the Air Force.  Upon completing Basic Training, he was accepted into an OTS class. After OTS, he served as an Electronic Warfare Officer and flight instructor in the B-52 aircraft.  His many assignments included Mather AFB, CA; Minot AFB, ND; temporary duty in Guam and flying over Vietnam; Castel AFB, CA; Kunsan AB, Korea; Carswell AFB, TX; Barksdale AFB, LA; and Blytheville AFB, AR, retiring in 1988. 
 

Following his Air Force retirement, he taught at Blytheville Community College, and Marian Central Catholic High School, but his most cherished job was "Mr. Mom" to his sons while the family traveled until Ginny’s retirement in 1996 at Incirlik AB, Turkey. 
 

Tom’s schooling never ended.  He completed an MBA from Golden Gate University and a Master of Arts in Community Leadership/Adult Christian Community Development from Regis University.  He was also enrolled in Carmelite Studies through the Washington Theological Union until he became too ill to continue. 
 

A convert to Catholicism, he loved religious studies and studied at Creighton University and Texas Christian University.  In 1994, he was professed as a Third Order Carmelite.  He served as Director of a Lay Community, as a Regional Coordinator, and as a member of the Lay Board for the Washington Theological Union.  Very involved in parish work, he served on parish and financial councils at many Air Force bases and taught religious education. 
 

Until his illness became to debilitating, he was a member of T. O. P. S.; the local astronomy club; VFW Post #4600; and was a Third Degree Knight of Columbus. 
 

In addition to loving Jesus and his family, he was an avid gardener, loved telling jokes, and enjoyed shopping for cowboy hats and watches while traveling.  For many years, the family enjoyed camping throughout the US, but had a special "love" for Rapid City, SD.  In 2008, Tom and Ginny traveled to 19 states and Canada visiting family and friends, including Rick and Yvonne Field, the couple who introduced them in California.  On their "first" date, Tom took Ginny to the Calaveras County Frog Jumping Contest in California.  He had a great sense of humor. 
 

He is survived by his wife; sons: Nathaniel (Johanna) of Chicago and Jeremy of Dallas, TX; granddaughters Sophia and Stella of Chicago; his only sibling, Robert "Bob" (Sharon) of Delavan, WI; his mother-in-law, Stella Chura of Stanley, WI; and many nieces and nephews. 
 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Carmelite Missions, 8501 Bailey Road, Darien, IL 60561-8418 and /or Les Turner ALS Foundation, 5550 West Touhy Avenue, Skokie, IL 60077-3254. 
 

Visitation was held on Wednesday from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Colonial Funeral Home, 591 Ridgeview Dr., McHenry, IL, where the Carmelite Rosary was recited at 3:00 p.m. 
 

Visitation will also be Friday from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Plombon Funeral Home in Stanley, WI, and will continue Saturday from 8:30 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. in the funeral home. 
 

The Funeral Mass will be Saturday at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary of Czestochowa Church in Stanley, WI, followed by burial in the family cemetery.