Thomas Paul Somraty Sr.
Thomas Paul Somraty Sr.
May 19, 1944 – May 11, 2026
Thomas Paul Somraty Sr. of Ozark, Missouri, aged 81, passed away on May 11, 2026, at his home due to a coronary or heart attack.
Thomas was born May 19, 1944 in Highland, Illinois to his parents, the late John Arthur Somraty III of Tiszadada, Hungary and the late Gertrude Estell (née Powers) Somraty of Denison, Texas.
Thomas was a 1961 graduate of Triad High School. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Joyce Jean (née White) Somraty of Kansas City, Missouri, along with their two children, Gwenette Jean Somraty residing in California and Thomas Paul Somraty Jr. of Valley Springs, California; nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
At a young age in rural southern Illinois, Thomas became intrigued with aviation and aircraft model building. He completed dozens of stick and tissue models, from simple beginners’ rubber powered craft to complex and much larger gas and electric powered aircraft. By the age of 25, he had obtained his student, private and commercial pilot certificates, along with multi-engine and instrument-rated certificates.
In December 1967, Thomas met the love of his life, 20-year-old Joyce Jean White, at a dance in St. Louis, Missouri. On their second date, he flew Joyce across southern Illinois to an airport with a unique and enjoyable restaurant that served delicious steak dinners. Joyce enjoyed the starlit evening flight back, plus many more that followed and they married 18 months later on May 31, 1969 in a Baptist church in Cahokia, Illinois.
Being an aviator had become a life-long passion that never ceased but after their two children were born and after making the move to the San Francisco Bay Area of California, Thomas remained at his trade; an iron worker and steel fabricator with machine shop access, so he could avoid being absent from the family for any lengthy periods. The trade served him well for many years because of his natural instinct and desire for fabricating one-of-a-kind specialty equipment, some of which included parts for the NASA Space Shuttle doors, submerged arc specialty welding for the Trans-Alaskan Pipeline System, wind tunnels for two research labs and industrial equipment of every imaginable type, etc.
Thomas also became successfully proficient in California real estate acquisitions and the management of several California homes, and he wrote two romance/adventure novels, one of which achieved a positive response from the editor of a major New York publishing house. The editor made several critiqued changes to the manuscript which Thomas couldn’t fulfill due to a busy schedule and lack of time. Thomas was also awarded two United States Patents for gasoline engine concept designs by constructing the operational model via having machine shop access, although the industry was changing so rapidly at the time they were never incorporated. He retired from the fabrication and iron trades at age 55 and had nine months retirement before enduring a coronary in April 2000. The surprising medical incident forced a slowdown in the construction of his home built aircraft; a kit plane that he and his wife had nearly completed.
During the following four years, they finished construction of the aircraft while also tending investment properties. Regretfully, because of FAA medical requirements referencing his heart attack, he would be issued a restricted pilot certificate. His wife, Joyce, began studying aircraft flight fundamentals and took Ground School instructions to become an aviatrix with a private pilot certificate, so she could ride and/or fly in the co-pilot seat. The attempt to solo was interrupted with employment responsibilities at her full-time job and the birth of their first grandchild. The completed aircraft was later sold to a gentleman in Glendale, Arizona, however the grandchild production kept increasing in two-year increments, until topping out at nine grandchildren.
Several years later at age 69, Thomas and Joyce decided to make the move to southwestern Missouri, where they became great-grandparents of three, two boys and a girl, which was several years after buying a home in Christian County just outside the city limits of Ozark, Missouri. It was at their Missouri home where they renewed their passion for weekly country/western dance events, similar to those they enjoyed in Lodi, California. They continued to enjoy the social nature of many dances with friends they had come to know well until the time of his passing.
Thomas was preceded in death by both parents and four siblings: Mary (Somraty) Aegerter of Highland, Illinois, John Arthur Somraty IV of Anniston, Alabama, and James Andrew Somraty of Granite City, Illinois. Thomas is survived by seven siblings: Rose (Somraty) Thornton of Collinsville, Illinois, Helen (Somraty) Stone of Grants Pass, Oregon, Shirley (Somraty) Pennock of Millstadt, Illinois, Lawrence Somraty of Troy, Illinois, Barbara (Somraty) Holifield of Breese, Illinois, Bonnie (Somraty) Leffler of Worden, Illinois and Candice Somraty of Troy, Illinois.
A private graveside service will be held at the Greenlawn Memorial Gardens in northern Springfield, Missouri, in accordance with arrangements made with Greenlawn funeral home directors and at the request of the deceased. Interment will follow immediately after the graveside service.
