Obituary of Tommy Finley

HAINES CITY - Tommy Finley of Haines City, Florida passed away on May 11, 2012. He was 90. He was born October 16, 1921 in East St. Louis, Illinois to Thomas Clyde and Sarah Petty Finley and moved to the area in 1985 from Illinois. Tommy was a machinist for 42 years with the Terminal Railroad where he was a member of the aerospace and machinist's union. He was a Christian by faith and a United States Army veteran of World War II, where he was in the 35th Div. Infantry. During his tour of duty he was stationed in the Pacific and involved with the Battle of the Bulge, he was the first soldier onto Omaha Beach in Normandy, France and he was also awarded the Purple Heart for wounds sustained in battle. Back home he was a member of the American Legion and he enjoyed marching in their parades playing either the snare drum or trumpet. Tommy enjoyed all forms of music, he also played the harmonica and could whistle as pretty as an instrument. He is predeceased by his parents, and son, Thomas C. Finley, III. Tommy is survived by his wife, of sixty four years, Dorothy Finley; daughters, Linda Lyerla of Haines City, Kathleen Soto of Haines City, Janet Miller of Caseyville, Illinois, Cynthia Osterling of St. Cloud, Florida and Angela Torti of Fairmont City, Illinois; nineteen grandchildren; thirty eight great grandchildren and one great-great grandchildren. Visitation will be Monday from 5-7 pm and the funeral will be at 10 am Tuesday, May 15, 2012 at Oak Ridge Funeral Care, Haines City with Rusty Hilliard of Church of Christ, Haines City officiating. Final resting place will be in Florida National Cemetery, Bushnell, Florida.