Larry Dean “T-WOOD” Thistlewood, age 65, of Paducah, Kentucky, passed away on Saturday, September 5, 2026, at Mercy Health-Lourdes Hospital.
Larry was born on September 6, 1960, in Cairo, Illinois, to the late William “Bill” Thistlewood Sr. and Emma Jean Lang (Thistlewood) Parham. He was raised in Cairo and graduated from Cairo High School in 1978. As a teenager, he worked at his family's airport in Cairo, doing maintenance and grounds work. That early exposure led to a lifelong interest in aviation.
Known simply as T-WOOD to most who knew him, Larry had a natural mechanical ability and could fix just about anything. He learned by taking things apart, figuring out how they worked, and putting them back together. His garage was always full of tools, parts, equipment, and another project waiting to be finished. Friends and family knew they could bring him something that needed fixing, and he was usually happy to help.
Bowling was a major part of Larry's working life. He operated T-WOOD's Bowling Service from his shop in Cairo and traveled throughout the Southeast installing lanes and mechanical equipment in new bowling centers. Along with his business partners, he also owned and operated Riverport Bowling Lanes in Paducah and Princeton Bowling Center in Princeton, Kentucky.
Larry spent 25 years with the McCracken County Public School System. He began as a school bus driver, at times working at the bowling centers between his morning and afternoon routes, and later transitioned into vehicle maintenance, where he remained until retirement.
Retirement did not suit someone who always needed something to do. Larry eventually went to work for Lindsey Funeral Home as a Crematory Technician, Driver, and Funeral Greeter, drawn to the work by his curiosity about a profession completely different from his own.
Music was another constant in Larry's life. He was a lifelong drummer who continued playing throughout his later years, sometimes playing with local bands and always keeping a kit of his own. He shared his love of music with his children.
Larry also enjoyed boating and remained fascinated by airplanes and aviation throughout his life. There was almost always another car, boat, machine, piece of equipment, or project that had his attention.
On April 7, 1983, Larry married his high school sweetheart, Dorothy Patterson. They spent more than five decades together and raised two children, Kaelin and Tia.
Larry is survived by his wife, Dorothy Patterson Thistlewood; his son, Kaelin (Brittany) Thistlewood; his daughter, Tia (Bryan) Wheatley; and his grandchildren, Delani, Kenzith, and Brayden Thistlewood.
He is also survived by his stepsisters, Cathy (Gary), Beverly (Joe) Jessen, and Carla (Dennis) Schaechtel; his stepbrother, James (Christi) Parham; and his in-laws, Gene Gillespie, Willie Baker, Anthony Patterson Sr., Kaamil Kemet (Cherron), Debra Patterson-Phillips, Gerald Patterson, and Phyllis Thistlewood; along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family members, and friends.
Larry was preceded in death by his parents, William “Bill” Thistlewood Sr. and Emma Jean Lang (Thistlewood) Parham; his brother, William “Billy” Thistlewood Jr.; his stepmother, Genevieve “Genny” Thistlewood; his stepfather, Thomas “Tommy” Parham; and his sister-in-law, Darlene Patterson-Levy.
T-WOOD will be remembered for his music, his mechanical talent, his dry sense of humor, and his ability to find another project almost anywhere he looked.
He will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
Funeral services will be at 1:00pm on Saturday, September, 19, 2026, at Lindsey Funeral Home with the Bro. David Godfrey officiating. Burial will follow at the Beechwood Cemetery in Mounds, IL.
Friends may visit the family from 11:00am to service hour on Saturday at the funeral home.
Online condolences may be left at www.lindseyfuneral.com
Lindsey Funeral Home is honored to serve the Thistlewood family.
