Graveside services for Mr. Tom Dansby, Sr. will be held at 10:00 A.M. on Friday, May 7, 2021 at Mulhearn Memorial Park Cemetery in Monroe, LA. Father Witt Stodghill will officiate. Visitation will be from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. on Thursday, May 6, 2021 at Kilpatrick Funeral Homes in Monroe, LA.

Tom Dansby was born January 28th, 1934 in Monroe, Louisiana, the second child of Grace and Emory Dansby. Whether you knew him as “Papa” or “Wolf,” to have known him was special indeed. He is survived by his son and daughter-in-law, Dr. Thomas C. Dansby Jr. and Sandra Gail Dansby. Tom has two grandchildren, Sarah Elizabeth Dansby and Davis Dansby, who always called him “Papa.” He has two siblings; his older sister Emma Lee Bledsoe of Dallas, who passed away in 2019, and Carolyn Applegate, the youngest of the three, who is a successful artist living in Bakersfield, California.

Tom’s family lived in Shreveport and Alexandria, Louisiana for most of his childhood before moving back to Monroe, where he entered Neville High School during his sophomore year. He played football for Neville and excelled in math and science. It was at Neville High School where Tom would meet his high school sweetheart and love of his life, Lynda Davis. Tom and Lynda both graduated Neville High School and attended LSU in Baton Rouge for most of their college life before returning to Monroe to finish their degrees at Northeast Louisiana University. Tom graduated with a degree in business, and Lynda graduated in psychology. While in college, Tom pledged Sigma Nu, an undergraduate college fraternity founded at the Virginia Military Institute in 1869 and was heavily involved in the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps. He loved aviation and owned a Cessna 182 airplane for many years. Tom joined the Civil Air Patrol in 1985 where attained the rank of Captain. Tom and Lynda married after college and so began the journey of family for the Dansby family. Linda would bear him their only child, Thomas Dansby Jr., affectionately known as “Tommy,” who would go on to become a successful physician and businessman well known in the local community.

In 1975, Tom and Lynda founded the iconic family-owned business, Dansby’s Taylor Rental Center. Tom and Lynda Dansby were the perfect model for a successful small business. As Tom liked to say, she was the brains and he was the brawn. Dansby’s Taylor Rental has continually served this community for more than 46 years. Their unsung philanthropic work has helped many organizations from the smallest non-profit to large institutions throughout the region, and included such works as helping with the football stadium addition at ULM.

Tom’s son’s memories are filled with years of hunting and fishing with his father. Whether it was deer and turkey hunting in west Texas, salt-water fishing on the gulf coast, or duck hunting throughout the south, Tom and Tommy were blessed to enjoy a lot of special time with each other. Together, father and son would ultimately buy the Merganser Farm located on Bayou Bartholomew in northern Louisiana and develop their dream sportsman paradise. Tom Sr. was known as “Wolf” at the farm, where to this day he has his own bedroom, Wolf’s Room.

Papa lost his beloved Lynda to cancer more than 20 years ago. Her loss did not slow him down, but it broke his heart. He immersed himself in family and the family business. He spent time with his son hunting, fishing and enjoying the outdoors. He was the kind of grandfather that every child could want, always grinning ear to ear with pride. You could find him at Sarah Elizabeth’s dance recitals and watching her cheerlead at school sporting events. Most recently, you would find him in the bleachers at Davis’ baseball or football games.

Time of late was not kind to his health, and it was Sandy who took care of Papa. Lynda surely would be well-pleased with the love and devotion her daughter-in-law gave her husband. Now Lynda and Tom can be together again, and everyone at peace. Tom Dansby Sr. died at home on Sunday, May 2, 2021.

Memorials may be sent to his beloved Chennault Aviation and Military Museum or St. Paul’s Methodist Church. Tom’s involvement with the Chennault Museum began in 2000 and he served on their board of directors for 16 years.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com.