Thomas J. Montgomery

Thomas James Montgomery, 77 years old, of South Bend, passed away at 11:16 a.m. on Saturday, May 27, 2023 at Memorial Hospital after recently being diagnosed with end stage heart failure.  Thomas was born on August 2, 1945 in Chicago, IL to the late Agnes Luella (Conkey) and Thomas Wade Boyd Montgomery.  The family later moved to Elkhart, IN where he attended Elkhart Central High School.  After graduating, he enlisted in the United States Army and served three years.  His specialty was maps and topography as a draftsman. Thomas received medals for good conduct and National Defense Service.  He was an expert rifleman and named Soldier of the Month.  Soon after returning home, he met his true love and married Susan J. Hudson on February 1, 1969.  They remained married for 51 years until her passing on September 1, 2020.

Thomas worked hard to support his family while being employed by Lock Joint Tube for more than twenty years.  Anyone who knew Thomas was aware he was a man of many passions.  He discovered a love of magic while in the Army and loved to perform magic tricks for family and friends whenever the chance presented itself.  Another passion of his was playing the guitar.  Thomas spent many years improving his craft and even taught lessons on weekends.  He loved all styles of music and had an extensive collection of albums from a lifetime of collecting. 

Thomas is survived by his children, Pamela J. (J. Christopher) Smith, John J. (Maria) Montgomery and Thomas J. Montgomery, all of South Bend; six grandchildren, Riley Laudeman, Olivia Montgomery, Victoria Montgomery, Tradd Smith, Ailsa Smith and Aisling Smith; three brothers, Lloyd (Pam) Montgomery of Cassopolis, MI, Alan (Dee) Montgomery of Jensen Beach, FL, and Don (Shar) Hill of Leesburg, FL; and his sister, Joan (the late Mike) Imes of Thurmont, MD. Thomas was preceded in death by his sister and brother-in-law, Roberta and Bud Gray. 

A service celebrating the life of Thomas will begin at 12:00 noon on Monday, June 5, 2023 at the Palmer Funeral Home-Guisinger Chapel, 3718 S. Michigan Street, South Bend.  Military honor will be accorded.  Friends may visit with the family beginning at 11:00 a.m.  In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Thomas may be donated to Palmer Funeral Home, 3718 S. Michigan Street, South Bend, IN  46614 to help defray the cost of services. Online condolences may be offered to Thomas’s family at www.palmerfuneralhomes.com. 

The service was filmed and can be viewed here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yFUUdD7FiJo

To send flowers to the family, please visit our floral store.