TOM ‘TOMMY’ LEWIS, 68, of Pleasant Hill, Ohio passed
away August 28, 1990. He died trying to shield two bank employees
with his own body during a bank robbery. One of the employees was
also shot to death and the second was critically injured.
Tom was a peace loving man who never owned a weapon. He was a
Medic during World War II, and was active in the V.F.W. He was
employed by the town of Pleasant Hill, Ohio and worked at the
cemetery. He was known as the ‘Mayor of Marble City, with 2500
people under him.’
Tom was a charter member of the Tri State Gas Engine and Tractor
Association, Portland, Indiana. He was extremely proud and
delighted with the special plaque awarded to the charter members at
the 25th anniversary Portland Show on the Saturday before his
death.
He loved to rebuild an old rusty wreck of an engine and get it
running like a top. He was a great swapper and trader, and must
have owned a third of the engines in this part of the country at
one time or another.
Tom was well known at all the engine shows in western Ohio and
eastern Indiana. He was deeply respected by all who knew him and he
loved all his friends. We miss him so very much.
He is survived by his sister, Ellen Mae Murphy, of Pleasant
Hill, Ohio.
Submitted by Ed T. Hufnal, 208Perm Road Troy, Ohio 45373.
WALTON ‘PERCY’ GOESCH passed away August 23, 1990, in
Turlock, California. Percy was 85 years young. He was born in
Geneva, Nebraska December 18, 1904. Percy is survived by his wife
of 64 years, Esther, and their three sons, Gerald of Martinez,
Garland of Modesto and Gordon of Washington. Percy and Esther have
lived in Hughson, California for the past 51 years. He is also
survived by three sisters, 10 grandchildren, and 20
great-grandchildren.
Percy was a farmer and carpenter, and had not yet retired from
these professions. He continued to be active in his community and
had several hobbies that kept him busy. He had an engine collection
that was a familiar sight at the Stanislaus County Fair, as were
his engineer’s cap and overalls. Percy spent many hours
demonstrating how his gasoline engines worked. He and Esther
received the School Bell Award in 1969, from the California
Teachers Association for their contributions to education.
Percy was a self-proclaimed sentimentalist who saved almost
everything, even his baby crib. He would say ‘Don’t throw
that out, I might use that someday.’ This led to a very large
collection of gas engines and anything you could imagine. Everyone
knew Percy. Many times people would stop him on the street and talk
to him only to find out later that neither he or his wife, Esther,
had ever met the person.
Percy was the past district Grand Master of the Odd Fellows
Lodge of Hughson. He was a member of the following clubs: Western
Heritage Engines, Antiques, Tractors, Inc. (W.H.E.A.T.); Early Day
Gas Engine and Tractor Association, Br.#3, Br.#6, Br.#9, Br.#13,
and Br.#22; The Sparkplug Collectors of America; Wooden Windmill
Association; and the Sugar Packet Collectors Club
International.
In 1975 Percy located and purchased a 110 HP Continental Gin
engine, in Yuma, Arizona. This engine was purchased by Percy and
several other engine collectors and brought back to Turlock where
these men formed the Continental 7-110 Club of Turlock. The club
restored this engine and it was featured in the January/February
1979 issue of Gas Engine Magazine.
Percy, you are going to be missed very much by a lot of people
whose lives you touched and influenced by the laughter and the love
you so willingly generated, wherever you were, and wherever you
went.
Submitted by Roger D. Green, his grandson, 3355 Blue Gum Avenue,
Modesto, California 95351.
BENJAMIN OLSZEWSKI of Hunlock Creek, Pennsylvania was born March
2nd, 1917 and passed away August 25, 1990.
He was a member of several antique machinery clubs including
Buffalo Valley Antique Machinery Association and Loyal sock Valley
Antique Machinery Association. He was a machinist and a woodworking
expert. He will be greatly missed by all his friends and buddies
who shared so much with him.
Submitted by Ruth House knecht RD #4, Muncy, Pennsylvania. (717)
584-3468.