Thomas P. Rankin

The Last Watch

Thomas Prater Rankin “crost the bar” on Sunday, May 20, 2023.

Tom was born in Lexington, Kentucky on Feb. 19, 1941 to parents Claude E. Rankin and Nannie Laura (“Aunt Nancy”) Rankin. Tom was amischievous boy who created mayhem a-plenty in his youth. Let’s just say the

Dierks Bentlely song, “What was I thinkin'” certainly applied to Tom in his younger days. Though Tom’s family lived in Lexington, Tom loved to spend time with his extended family in Magoffin County (KY) deep in the Appalachian coal country.

“I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide

Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied” John Mansfield

Tom enlisted in the U.S. Navy after high school where he found the irresistible call of the sea. Tom rose steadily in the enlisted ranks achieving the rank of Chief Petty Officer. Tom also was a plank owner of the USS Enterprise from his time in the enlisted ranks. Tom earned a Navy scholarship to attend North Carolina State University where he graduated with degree in electrical engineering. As a newly commissioned Ensign, Tom rejoined the fleet eventually serving on multiple ships in his career. One of Tom’s first postings as an Ensign was on the commissioning crew of the USS Knox which led the class of naval frigates in its day. Tom later earned a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School.

Tom’s service (adventures) in the U.S. Navy took him to Jacksonville, FL, Pearl Harbor, HI, Seattle, WA, Queens, NY, Norfolk, VA, and Pascagoula, MS.

Tom used to love to tell “sea stories” most of which were not appropriate for a family newspaper. Tom was a proud veteran of the Vietnam War and a enjoyed his twenty-one years in service to his country.

“Make Up Leeway”

Near the end of his naval career, Tom met the love of his life, Alydia P. Rankin (nee Price). Tom and Alydia first lived in Pascagoula, MS, but then moved to a farm near McComb, MS, where they lived until later in their lives. Tom took to becoming a gentleman farmer for a while. At various times, the Rankin farm included beef cows, calves, pigs, goats, at least one pony, a donkey, and many well-loved dogs.

Tom could never sit still for too long and soon took up a career as an independent salesman until retirement. Tom loved talking with people and the thrill of closing a sale. Hard work and determination served Tom well though out his life.

Wanting to be close to family, Tom and Alydia enjoyed spending many summers in Sherman, NY, where they could visit their grandson, Wallace, and occasionally Wallace’s parents, Tom and Elisabeth. Their desire to be with family led Tom and Alydia to move to Tuscaloosa, AL, near the end of their lives to be near their daughter, Susan and her husband, Shane. Being a native of Kentucky,

Tom could never really say, “Roll Tide!”

“Our anchor we’ll weigh, our sails we will set

The friends we are leaving we’ll never forget”

Good Bye, Fare thee Well

Alydia passed away on March 17, 2023. Tom’s grief knew no bounds and his broken heart could not mend. Tom passed away only two months later to be reunited with Alydia in Heaven.

Tom was preceded in death by his siblings, Douglas Rankin, Bertie Lou Powers, and Patricia Carrier in addition to his parents.

Tom is survived by his daughter, Susan M. (Shane) Givens and son, Richard Thomas (Elisabeth) Rankin and his grandson, Wallace Thomas Rankin. Tom and Alydia will be interred at the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Newton, Mississippi, on July 17, 2023.