After an intense battle with ALS, Thomas Elbert Kingry passed away April 15 at his home in Oakville.  He was 91.5 years of age.

Born and raised in Saginaw, MI, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1950 following graduation from high school. During the 1950s, he served two tours of duty with the Marines in Korea, was a drill instructor at Parris Island, NC, and editor of the Triad, division newspaper in Okinawa, and the Globe, base newspaper at Camp Lejeune, NC.

Following discharge from the Marines in 1960, he relocated to Colorado where, for the next six years, he worked on the editorial staffs of the Loveland and Greeley daily newspapers.

Mr. Kingry re-entered the Marines in 1966 and served in the Republic of Vietnam throughout 1968 as a helicopter crewman and combat correspondent, flying more than 100 missions. In 1969, he returned to USMC recruiting duty based in Denver, CO during which he and two other Marines did a 4-day 100 Mile Hike to raise funds for the March of Dimes. In 1971, he was transferred to the Pentagon press information office and was commissioned a USMC limited duty officer (2nd Lt). Subsequently he joined the JPAO (joint public affairs office) in Okinawa and was part of the Marine Homecoming Operations team in the Philippines. This team managed the recovery of USMC prisoners of war coming out of Vietnam. His final duties were with the 4th Marine Aircraft Wing in Glenview, IL, and New Orleans, LA.

He married Judi Susan Halbleib July 2, 1975, at the U.S. Navy Air Station in Pensacola, FL. Following retirement from the Marines, he joined Judi in Ontario, Canada where they have resided since. In Canada, Mr. Kingry was employed for 20 years by the ORTECH Corporation in Mississauga, ON as manager of corporate communications until he retired in 1996.

For the past 48 years, the Kingry's have been active members of Saint Dominic Catholic Parish where Tom led educational programs and was instrumental in helping organize liturgies and training liturgical ministers. In his spare time, he was an avid wood worker.

In addition to his loving wife, Judi, he leaves behind sons, Joseph (Oakville, ON), and Thomas Clark (Saginaw, MI) and Kevin of the U.S.; nine grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. He is predeceased by son, Daniel.

The family wishes to salute and thank the dedicated medical and homecare teams who cared for Tom in recent months, especially the compassionate and skilled nurses and PSWs (personal service workers).

In lieu of flowers, we invite you to donate in Tom's name to Saint. Dominic Catholic Parish, the ALS Society, Good Shepherd, Chalice, Covenant House.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday April 17, 2024 at the Kopriva Taylor Community Funeral Home, 64 Lakeshore Road West, from 3 - 5 pm and 7- 9 pm. Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday April 18, 2024 at St. Dominic Roman Catholic Church, 2415 Rebecca Street, Oakville at 11 am.

Commencing Monday afternoon, April 22, a recording of the arrival at church and funeral mass will be viewable here:

Thomas E. Kingry Funeral Mass