Thomas W. Sledge

Thomas W.Sledge was born to the union of Wesley Sledge Sr and Idella Reese Sledge on March 9, 1931, in Detroit.

He graduated from Miller High School in Detroit's Black Bottom, where he was a track star. He and his wife Dorothy were lifetime supporters of the Miller Alumni Association.
He married his high school sweetheart Dorothy Waller (deceased), a union that lasted 69 years and produced 6 children.
He worked many a job on his way to becoming a U.S. postal Supervisor.
He and his brother Kenneth owned Wy-7 bowling alley for a while back in the day.
He was an all-around athlete, from track to ice skating, basketball, tennis, and bowling.
Tom was a runner his entire life, from the track at Miller High school to Free Press Marathons & Turkey Trots.
There are many tales of Dad's driving skills on "the racer's curve" down to the Homestead for family reunions in Waynesboro. This involved ignoring the painted lines and following the "grade" of the road like the racers do.

He was the proud owner of a massive collection of obnoxious t-shirts- some gifted by his children, some from his Marathon days and travels, and some were a mystery.
He was a lover of fine wine and Jazz.
Of course, anyone who knew Tom knew he loved the horses, from DRC to Hazel Park to Northville Downs.
He and his friends attended many a Kentucky Derby and visited tracks across the country.
Tom was a 58 year resident of Russell Woods. He worked neighborhood patrol, plowed snow for his neighbors well into his 80's, and loved his lawn.

He is survived by 6 children, Janice (Michael), Linda, Valerie (Anthony), Tracy, Scott & Michelle. His son (Tonto) Thomas Jr. predeceased him.
He has 7 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren, his brother Kenneth Sledge (Betty), his sister Marie,
a host of nieces and nephews, and his beloved fat cat, Snowball.

He will always be "Tom Sledge, the man, the myth, the legend."

Please consider donations to Michigan Humane Society, Salvation Army, or the Leukemia Lymphoma Society, or to donating blood or funds to the Red Cross.