On April 18, 1936, Tom Thoits, prominent Peninsular Club member and president of Winters and Crampton Manufacturing Company of Grandville, was accidentally and instantly killed when struck by a New York Central electric train at the Prairie Road crossing in Wyoming Park.

Mr. Thoits was born in Manchester, N.H., July 19, 1888. He attended St. John’s Military Academy at Delafield, Wis., and also the University of Chicago. In 1909 he started to work for the Welch Manufacturing Co., eventually becoming president of the Welch-Wilmarth Corporation. Later he became executive vice-president of the Grand Rapids Store Equipment Corporation and also served as president of this company.

Mr. Thoits served as captain during the World War, commanding a company of infantry overseas. After the War he was appointed by Frank T. Hines, Veterans’ Administrator, to serve on the board of veterans appeals dealing with claims of soldiers. In 1933, Mr. Thoits was made general manager of the Winter- Crampton corporation, and within the last year was elected president. He was also on the board of the Michigan Trust Co., and had been a member of the board of the Grand Rapids Savings Bank.

In addition to being a member of the Peninsular Club he was associated with the Kent Country Club. His fraternal affiliations were with the York Lodge of Masons and Knights Templar. Mr. Thoits is survived by the widow and three children, Tom Thoits, Jr., 21, Mary Elizabeth, 12, and Robert, 11.

Transcriber: Barb Jones
Created: 7 July 2009
URL: http://kent.migenweb.net/obituaries/thoitsT.html