Thomas Joseph Sell

Thomas Joseph Sell
March 15, 1931 – July 17, 2020

Thomas Joseph Sell was born in Cumberland, Maryland on March 15, 1931. Thomas was the 2nd youngest of 11 children of the late John James & Ellen Catherine (née Kesler) Sell. While growing up, his father's position as a railroad executive necessitated relocations throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania, New York, and West Virginia. Subsequently, he graduated from Saint Peter's primary school in Staten Island, NY, and then from Wheeling Central Catholic High School in West Virginia in 1949. Immediately following high school, he enlisted for 1 year in the U.S. Navy. However, before that year was up, the Korean war broke out. Therefore, he ended up serving just shy of 4 years - most notably in the waters off of Korea and China with his most significant time spent aboard the U.S.S. Suisun as a boatswain's mate, before being honorably discharged at Miramar, San Diego in April of 1953. After returning to the United States, Thomas began employment with the B&O (Baltimore & Ohio) Railroad in West Virginia.

Early in his railroad career, he joined an apprenticeship to become an electrician and remained with the railroad for approximately 12 years. In 1966, the Chrysler Corporation recruited Thomas to relocate to the Detroit area. He worked for Chrysler as an electrician for more than 28 years, until his retirement on December 31, 1994. He enjoyed his work very much, and for all intents and purposes, was a workaholic. Though there were many stretches of shifts throughout his career at Chrysler consisting of "7 10's or 6 12's" - as soon as he would be limited to a standard 40-hour week, he would seek "side jobs" assisting whomever he could with residential or industrial electrical needs in his "spare" time. He continued to do just that for many years following his retirement from Chrysler until the physical demands of his trade became too much. He enjoyed being and was a proud father of his 3 children and an even prouder grandfather of his 5 grandchildren. He loved animals, as well as hobbies of golf, fishing, bowling, reading, and staying informed regarding current events. He was a stickler for order and action, and was generous to a fault. He was hard-working, outspoken, and lived a very full and long life - entirely on his own terms.

Thomas is survived by 3 children - Timothy (Lissa) of Eaton Rapids, MI; Theodore of Grosse Pointe Farms, MI; and daughter Sandra of Sterling Heights, MI; as well as 5 grandchildren – Thomas, Alexander, Catharine, Elizabeth, and Tanner; 2 siblings - sister Mary Otten of Wheeling, W.V., and brother Kenneth (Claudette) Sell of Furlong, PA; sister-in-law Vigdis Sell of Lexington, KY; as well as 22 nieces and nephews and their families.

He is predeceased by his parents, John and Ellen Sell; 5 brothers: James "Sonny," Robert (Helen), John (Margie), Donald Sr. (Eleanor), Richard (Peggy); 3 sisters: Ellen "Boots," Jean (Robert) Garvey, and Louise (Victor "Jiggs") Mason, brothers-in-law Robert Otten and Frank Bush, niece Meg Phillips, and nephew Donald "Buster" Sell, Jr.

A private service with full military honors for the interment of Thomas' ashes will be held at the Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly Township, Michigan on Friday, September 25.