U.S. Coast Guard- 12 Mar1947-12 Mar 1951.
4 Includes NotesNotes for Thomas David Lanterman:
Though his death certificate says he died on March 4, he actually took his last breath at 11:20 p.m. Saturday night March 3. The descrepancy is due to the later arrival and prounouncement of death by St. Joseph's Hospice nurse.
As he had always wished, after a non-religous service that involved eulogies by Ken, his grandchildren and his VFW buddies at Hayes Funeral Home on the Tuesday following his death, his body was cremated and his ashes spread in the Gulf of Mexcio by the U.S. Coast Guard based in Galveston, Texas.
What follows is an obituary written by Ken Lanterman that ran in the Galveston County Daily News, March 6.
Thomas David Lanterman, a Santa Fe area businessman, died at his home Saturday. He was 71.
Friends may visit with his family at Hayes Funeral Home in Santa Fe between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tuesday. There will be no memorial or graveside services. His wishes were to be cremated.
A descendant of one of the early families who settled western New Jersey, Tom was born Oct. 4, 1929 in Morristown, N.J., to Ralph and Harriet Boniface Lanterman. He joined the U.S. Coast Guard at 17 and met and married his future wife Mary Margaret Mongan while stationed in Galveston in 1948. He served 20 years in the Coast Guard before retiring in Santa Fe in 1967.
Upon retiring, he sold cars for a variety of dealerships, including Bertolett Dodge in Texas City, later Freeport, Saylor Motors in Alvin, Bud Brown Ford in Alvin and McRee Ford of Dickinson. He also opened several used car lots of his own in Hitchcock, Santa Fe and Alvin.
When he wasn't selling cars, Tom pursued his childhood dream of owning his own business, variously owning and operating the Coast Inn, the Red Carriage Inn and Chicken & Stuff, all in Hitchcock. For a time he ran a bar in Freddieville and Arcadia.
Though his successes were limited, his spirit and desire to be an independent businessman never failed.
Those who knew him knew a friend, an optimist and someone who liked a good laugh.
He was known to book an occasional football bet and seemed happiest before his illness gardening in his back yard, sun burning his back and a can of Pearl beer at his side. He liked nothing better than to invite friends over for a late afternoon barbecue.
Tom's second home was the VFW Post 5400 in Hitchcock. It gave him a place to argue politics (the only Republican in the place), express his deep sense of patriotism (he'd get choked up over the Star Spangled Banner) and work for the community (he was one of the VFW's early organizers of the Crab Race Festival and Memorial Day ceremonies).
Tom leaves his wife of 52 years, Mary, son, Ken, and daughter-in-law, Peggy, son, Kevin; brother, Ralph Lanterman of Sarasota, Fla.; grandchildren, Shannon Lanterman Schulze, Kelly Lanterman Humphries, Kaylene Lanterman, Kevin Lanterman Jr., Krystal Lanterman; great grandchildren Madison Schulze and Devon Humphries; and several nieces and nephews in New Jersey, Florida and North Carolina.
The family would like to thank the dozens of people who helped make Tom's life comfortable in his final days, Lynette Gage, Frank Hughes, Bob and Marika DeVries, Leon Little, Sonny and Sandy Hultquist, Charlie Lightfoot, Pete Galvan and the rest of the gang at the VFW.
Memorials can be made to VFW Post 5400 in Hitchcock and Christus St. Joseph Hospice, 1919 LaBranch, Houston, Texas 77002.