Thomas Doles

     Funeral services for Thomas Kinniard Doles, age 85, of Monroe, LA will be held at 1:00 P.M. on Monday, February 25, 2008, in the Chapel of Kilpatrick Funeral Home of Monroe on Lamy Lane. Officiating will be Rev. Larry Stafford. Interment will follow at Wilmot Cemetery in Wilmot, AR under the direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Home of Monroe on Lamy Lane.     Mr. Doles was born on October 27, 1922, in Jones, LA and passed away on February 21, 2008, in Monroe, LA. Mr. Doles was a graduate of Bonita High School and attended Louisiana State University on an Agricultural scholarship. He graduated with a degree in Animal Husbandry and was a member of the professional fraternity Alpha Gamma Rho where he served as Vice-Noble.      Having a passion for airplanes, Mr. Doles served a 20 year career in the United States Navy as a naval aviator retiring at the rank of Commander. He served in the Philippines as chief pilot to J.P. Putney. In Paris, France, he was stationed with the Supreme Allied Headquarters of Europe and was the personal assistant to Admiral McDonald who later became the Chief of Naval Operations for the United States Navy. He later served as Commander and gunnery office on the U. S. Forrestal aircraft carrier. Mr. Doles career and countless hours of flight time enabled him and his family to travel extensively.     Mr. Doles, with his wife, Edieth, selected an early retirement from the military and returned to North Louisiana in 1962. They raised their two daughters and he became very involved with the Navy as a teacher in the ROTC programs at area high schools.     Mr. Doles participated in various community groups and organizations and was a charter member of the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, FL. He was a farmer, a pilot, a teacher, an avid yachtsman, and a great fan of opera.     Mr. Doles was preceded in death by his wife, Edieth Crossley Doles and his parents, Bonnie and David Doles, Sr.; brothers, Robert Fort Doles, Basil Doles, Sr. and William Doles.      Survivors are his two daughters, Bonnie Doles of San Miguel de Allende, MX and Beverly Graham and her husband, Gary of Monroe, LA; grandsons, Hutton Banks of Baton Rouge, LA, Harrison Banks of Oxford, MS, and Jeremy Graham of Baton Rouge, LA; brother, David Doles, Jr. of Monroe, LA and nieces and nephews.     Pallbearers will be Hutton Banks, Harrison Banks, Basil Doles, Jr., Mike Doles, Don Doles and Jimmy Doles.     Honorary pallbearers will be David Doles, Jr., Leon Doles, Jeff Foster, Kenneth Foster and Ronald Boone.     Visitation will be 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M., Sunday, February 24, 2008, at Kilpatrick Funeral Home of Monroe on Lamy Lane.     Contributions to Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, FL. preferred.      Online condolence messages may be sent to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com.