Thomas G Ivie

Thomas G. Ivie, age 85, passed away on July 6, 2024. Tom was born in Lexington, Kentucky on November 24, 1938, but grew up in nearby smalltown Cynthiana. He loved to talk about his childhood friends and the fun and shenanigans they all got into in this idyllic setting. A favorite story happened when he was around 4 years old and when asked his name, he proudly pronounced he was “Thomas Waffle Ivie” (a family nickname due to his extreme love of waffles, of course!) He remained convinced his entire life that the movie ‘A Christmas Story’ was based on his life. Most importantly, as in the movie, his mother thwarted his deep desire for the Red Ryder Carbine-action 200-shot Range Model Air Rifle.

Tom remained friends with the “kids” he went to school with in Cynthiana. Each year, he returned for the reunion, which usually meant a meal at Biancke's Restaurant. Tom left Cynthiana to attend Eastern Kentucky University, where he majored in History. While there, he met and then married his first wife, Dottie Azbill (Estes). He was in the ROTC and upon graduation, he reported to Fort Holabird in Baltimore, Maryland, where his first child, Karen, was born. He later served for two years in Verdun, France, with his last year in the Army completed at Fort Lee, Virginia, where second child, Kathy was born. After his retirement as a Captain in the Army, he and his family settled in Fort Thomas, Ky, where his son, David was born. Tom never lost his interest in history. Family vacations always involved a trip to a battleship, a historic cabin or a historical site of some kind; though he also enjoyed what became annual family-favorite treks to Myrtle Beach. 

After his first marriage ended, Tom moved to Wilder, Ky. He met his current wife Mary when they happened upon each other as she walked her cat, Jeffrey, on a leash! That impromptu conversation about a shared love for cats turned into a marriage that lasted for the rest of his life. In addition, Tom gained a bonus daughter, Nancy when he married Mary.

Tom had a lifelong love of aviation. He built model airplanes starting as a child and developed deep and lasting friendships in the Model Airplane Club where they shared this passion. Tom turned this passion into writing books about WWII. He traveled all over the country interviewing pilots and soldiers. He loved honoring them by sitting with them as they told their stories of flight and their times of service during WWII. Tom’s books included Aerial Reconnaissance: The 10th Photo Recon Group in WWII, Fighters of the Mighty Eighth 1942-1945, Patton’s Eye in the Sky: USAAF Tactical Reconnaissance Missions Northwest (Air War Classics) and Aviation Elite 08: 352nd Fighter Group - OP. He also wrote an uncountable number of magazine articles on the same topics.

Tom had the most incredible memory and could remember events that happened in childhood and all the way through his life. He never forgot a name and he always had a memory to share with friends when they got together. He was the type of friend who was loyal and always available to lend a shoulder, a hand, his time. Tom had an incredible sense of humor and irony; in fact, using his humor to get through what he was facing and to comfort those around him. In a moment of introspection, he asked if he led a great life: The only answer was YES. He had an incredible life full of fun, adventure, travels, friendship, family, and love. 

Tom is survived by his wife Mary Ivie, children Karen (Roger) Dybdahl, Kathy (Dave) McDonald, David (Fumiko) Ivie, and Nancy Hancock as well as sister Ginny (John) Knox and their children Sarah (Glenn) Flick, Mary Ellen Kindig, Joanna (HT) Yoder as well as some much beloved grand-cats and a grand-dog he adored. 

In keeping with his wishes there will be no funeral or memorial service. Instead, a private Celebration of Life service will be scheduled for family and close friends. Information will be available at a later date.