Tom grew up in Saint Joseph, Missouri with his siblings, Norman, Robert, Ruth and Tom. He graduated from Lafayette High School in Saint Joseph, where he was active in the school's theatre program. After high school, Tom began his working career with TWA working as an assistant director of Finance for several years. During this time, he also taught dancing lessons with Arthur Murray’s dance company. However, over the course of his working career, Tom worked at the Control-O-fax company in Waterloo, Iowa for 18 years, as well as Lexus Automotive Company as a salesman in Estero, Florida and Overland Park, Kansas for a combined 12 years, until retiring in the early 2000s.
It was while working at TWA that Tom met a young lady by the name of Estelle. Tom had a visual impairment as a result of a childhood injury that left him blind in one eye. Estelle misunderstood Tom’s bashfulness as uninterested until one day at a company picnic she understood why he was a little self-conscience. After dating for a year, they married June 22nd of 1964.
Tom was hardworking, thoughtful and remembered special events, dates, and birthdates. He placed his faith in His Lord and Savior Jesus Christ at a young age, and on January 11, 2020 he entered into his heavenly home.
Tom was preceded in death by his father, Maxwell; mother, Hazel, and brothers, Norman and Robert.
Tom leaves a legacy in his wife, Estelle; children, Douglas, Kurtis, Michael and Paulette; sister, Ruth; grandchildren, Taylor, Danielle, Jacob, Leah, Isabelle; and great-grandchild, Oaklyn.
