By Rebecca Goodman
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Mr. Stokes

Thomas P. Stokes, a retired executive for General Motors, died of heart failure Friday at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in Plant City, Fla. He was 69.

Born in Rochester, N.Y., Mr. Stokes graduated from the University of Cincinnati in 1958 and earned an MBA degree from Xavier University.

He was GM's executive liaison to UC.

Mr. Stokes was "highly respected by all who worked with him - whether they were executives or part of the maintenance crew or the production folks," said Thomas J. Tatham, a longtime colleague. "He had a very warm personality and he had a very quick mind."

Mr. Stokes joined GM's Frigidaire Division in Dayton, Ohio, as a UC engineering cooperative.

He worked in quality control for Frigidaire while in Xavier's MBA program.

He held various positions in quality control, sales and manufacturing until he was named general manufacturing manager of the newly organized Delco Air Conditioning Division in Dayton in 1975.

Mr. Stokes became general manufacturing manager of Harrison Radiator Division in Lockport, N.Y., after its merger with Delco in 1981. The following year he returned to Dayton as general manager of the Delco Moraine Division. In 1985 he became general manager of Harrison Radiator.

Mr. Stokes retired in 1990.

He served on the board of the YMCA in Dayton and was active in various organizations in Lockport.

Survivors include Sandra, his wife of 49 years; three daughters, Kris Stokes of West Chester, Kim Stokes of Plant City, Fla., and Vicki Samu of Belton, Texas; and three grandchildren.

A memorial service is 2 p.m. Wednesday at Tobias Beavercreek Chapel near Dayton.

Memorials: American Heart Association, 2936 Vernon Place, Cincinnati 45219.

E-mail rgoodman@enquirer.com