Thomas R. Slater

Thomas R. Slater, 93, of Moline, Illinois, passed away at Friendship Manor in Rock Island on Saturday, October 29.

Visitation is 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. Friday, November 4, in the Horizon Room at Trimble Funeral Home at Trimble Pointe, Moline. Graveside services will follow at Moline Memorial Park. Memorials may be made to Riverside United Methodist Church.

Thomas Russell Slater was born on April 8, 1929 in Rock Island, Illinois to Everett James and Dorothy Armina (Wells) Slater. He graduated from Rock Island High School in 1948 where he excelled in football, basketball, and track.

Tom served in the United States Army at Camp Irwin in California for two years during the Korean War. He helped train soldiers in tank operations in the Mojave Desert. Tom married Vera Jean Morley in 1953 and they made their home in Moline. He worked for John Deere Planter for 42 years retiring in 1987.

Tom enjoyed playing golf with friends and family, and worked as a golf course marshal for several years. Tom served on church committees at First United Methodist Church (now Riverside UMC) in Moline and helped his sons in their Boy Scout activities.

Tom loved feeding wildlife, except squirrels, in his backyard.

Survivors include his wife, Vera; sons, Mark (Cindy) Slater of Moline, Chris (Connie) Slater of Iowa City, and Todd (Lisa) Slater of Coal Valley, grandchildren, Melissa (Nick) Anderson, Lauren (Matt) Dufrene, Austin Slater, Grant Slater, and Mason Slater; great-grandchildren, Dexter and Max Anderson and Rosemary Dufrene; brother, Philip Beardsley; niece, Laurie (Craig) Kramer; and nephews, Justin Slater and Brian Moad. Tom was preceded in death a brother, Lawrence Slater; sister, Barbara Moad; sister-in-law, Marjorie Slater; and nephew, Craig Slater.

The family would like to thank everyone at Friendship Manor.

Online condolences may be shared at TrimbleFuneralHomes.com.