Justice Thomas B. Spain Obituary (1928 - 2013)

\ Thomas Butler Spain, Jr., 85, died on December 7, 2013 at the Western Kentucky Veterans Center, Hanson, Ky. \ \ He was born on November 5, 1928 in Madisonville, Kentucky. \ \ His parents were Louise Pinkard Ross and Thomas Butler Spain, Senior. \ \ He attended Madisonville Public schools, Western Ky. University and graduated from University of Kentucky College of Law, June, 1951, with Juris Doctorate Degree. \ \ He served in the United States Army as an enlisted man and as a First Lieutenant, Judge Advocate General's Corps in Korea, 1952. He continued on active duty as Judge Advocate until May, 1955, retiring a Major, J.A.G.C., U.S. Army Reserve. \ \ In June of 1955 he joined the law firm of Gordon and Gordon, and Mills in Madisonville. He continued in general practice with this firm and with Mills, Spain, Mitchell and Turner until June, 1973. \ \ On June 29, 1973, Governor Wendell Ford appointed Spain as Circuit Judge of Hopkins and Caldwell Counties, a position he held for 17 years. In November 1990 he was elected Justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court from the First Appellate District. He retired in 1994 and became 'of counsel' in the law firm of Whitfield and Cox. \ \ From 1982-1986 Spain served as President of the Kentucky Association of Circuit Judges and Chief Regional Judge, Purchase Region of Judicial Circuits. He was the recipient of the Henry V. Pennington Outstanding Trial Judge Award presented by the Kentucky Academy of Trial Attorneys in 1983. In 1985 he was presented Kentucky Bar Association's Outstanding Judge award. \ \ He was a life time member of the First Presbyterian Church in Madisonville where he served as an Elder, choir member and teacher of Adult Couples Sunday School Class. He was also a member of the Permanent Judicial Commission of the Presbytery of Western Kentucky, Presbyterian Church. \ \ He served as Past President of the Audubon Council, Boy Scouts of America and was recipient of the Silver Beaver and Distinguished Citizens Awards. He was Past President of Kiwanis Club of Madisonville. In 1985, Judge Spain was the recipient of the Lions Club Man of the Year Award. \ \ In 1954 he married the former Frances M. Jones of Lexington, Ky. They have 2 sons, Edward Butler Spain (Carolyn Etheridge) of Atlanta, Ga. and David Ross Spain (Janice Newsam) of Houston, Texas. They have 4 grandchildren, Ross Butler Spain, Derek Carlton Spain, Jennifer Elizabeth Spain and Thomas Edward Spain. \ \ Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, December 11, 2013 at Barnett-Strother Funeral Home with Rev. Lon Lorton Officiating. Burial will follow in Odd Fellows Cemetery in Madisonville. \ \ Visitation will be from 3:00 P.M. until 6:00 P.M. Tuesday and after 10:00 A.M. until the service time Wednesday at Barnett-Strother Funeral Home. \ \ In lieu of flowers, family requests donations to First Presbyterian Church and Boy Scouts of America \ \ \ \ \ \