Thomas Howard Yeilding

Thomas Howard Yeilding, 86, went home to the arms of his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on April 9, 2014. Burial will be at 3:00 pm Friday afternoon April 11th at the Texas State Veterans Cemetery near Lake Fort Phantom under the direction of Piersall Funeral Directors. Family visitation will be held from 6:00 - 8:00 pm Friday evening in the Fellowship Hall of Wylie Baptist Church, where Howard was a member for many years. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 am Saturday morning April the 12th at Wylie Baptist Church.

Howard was born November 6, 1927 to James Clinton Yeilding and Julia Mae Choate Yeilding in Oglesby, Texas. He attended schools in Oglesby and Gatesville, Texas. Howard served in the Merchant Marines from 1944 and 1945 travelling to the Philippines and China among other places. He also served in the United States Army from 1954 to 1956 where he was an instructor in the Signal Corps stationed in Augusta, Georgia.

Howard met and married the love of his life Elaine Stearns on his twentieth birthday, November 6, 1947 in Monahans, Texas. To them were born two sons and a daughter, Thomas Mark Yeilding, Philip Howard Yeilding, and Lana Joy Yeilding.

Howard and Elaine resided in numerous places in west Texas while he was employed by Mobil Oil Company and settled in Abilene in 1962 where he went to work for the U S Postal Service. He retired from the U S Postal Service in 1990 after a 27 year career. After Elaine’s retirement from AISD in 1991 they purchased a motorhome and traveled extensively to many destinations throughout the US and Canada, including to Alaska and Nova Scotia. Together they enjoyed many years of hunting, fishing, and water skiing with family and many friends as well as much traveling. Howard loved to see new places and meet new friends. He never met a stranger. He also cherished the opportunity to be with his grandkids and especially teaching them to fish.

Howard was the sixth of eight children and was preceded in death by his parents, all five of his brothers (Hollis, Everett, Albert, S.L., and Ralph) and a sister, Catherine.

Survivors include his wife, Elaine of Abilene; Mark and wife DeAnn Yeilding of Abilene; Philip and wife Linda of Sherman; Lana and husband Mark Bland of Merkel. He loved his grandchildren dearly; Amy Yeilding and fiancé James Henson, Michael Yeilding and wife Meredith, Matt Yeilding and wife Melissa, Claire Bell and husband Tyler, Paul Goodrich, and Molly and husband Jr Andrews.

The family very much appreciates the love and care of Dr. George Dawson and the staff of Hospice of the Big Country as well as staff of Mesa Springs Nursing Home.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Big Country or Wylie Baptist Church Building Fund. Condolences may be offered to the family online at www.pbfuneraldirectors.com.