Thomas E. Smith
June 14, 1952 ~ February 5, 2023
Thomas Smith was born June 14th, 1952 in Wichita, KS to Max and Loretta Smith. The family soon moved to Tonkawa, OK where Tom graduated high school and begun his lifelong support of the OU Sooners. Tom graduated from Okmulgee Tech with a Bachelors in Electrical Engineering and met the mother of his children.
Tom and family stayed in Tulsa, OK for ten years where he drove trucks for companies such as Mistletoe Express. In 1985, Tom and his children moved back to Tonkawa, OK. He then took over his father’s business, Smith Oil Company.
He lived his life with an uplifting message and never met a stranger he didn’t know. He loved Jesus and was a dedicated father and grandfather. After his children were grown, he started a new business providing pest control in Oklahoma and Kansas. He moved to Wichita in the early 2000s and continued to work until he retired January 1st, 2022. In June 2022, Tom had a stroke and was hospitalized until his passing on February 5th, 2023 in New Braunfels, TX.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Max and Loretta Smith, his sister Belle Marie, and his younger brother Chuck. His surviving family includes children, Scott, Elizabeth, and Julie. His grandchildren, Tenetke, Collin, Alyssa, Alexandria, Crista, Raven, and Tramane, and many more family members. His children were with him at the moment he left this earth.
Memorial Service will be held Saturday February 18th at 2pm in Ponca City at the Carolyn Renfro Event Center in the Chapel.
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So many memories, but one stayed with me. I had a flat ,in my dress. Here comes Tommy. He said”Im sure Bob Rider taught you to change a flat. But you’re going to mess up that pretty dress. Let me do it.” With that adorable smile. Thank you Tommy for being a gentleman and fun guy.
Danette Rider Class of 70
I’m saddened to hear of my cousin, Tommy’s, passing.
When we were young we saw each other often. My grandfather, Dewey, was his Father’s big brother, and the Smith family reunions were regular and great fun.
I loved both Max and Loretta dearly. They were just good people, and unlike some of the other “elders” – not at all to be feared.
Tommy, Chuck and Joe (my brother) and I were all close in age and enjoyed hanging out and playing together.
We drifted apart as so easily happens, and the last time we talked was 7-8 years ago. Kathey and I had moved to a new house where we hung a pool table lamp over our pool table in the game room. I had recently lost my mom and found it in her attic. I posted a picture on Facebook and he reached out after he showed it to Loretta and said she wanted to talk to me.
I knew that Max and Loretta had made the lamp – mom told me it was their first stained glass creation. But Loretta told me the best story about it. She and Max took it to Edinburg as a gift to Dewey and Neva for their 50th wedding anniversary. They didn’t want to ship it, or check it as luggage, so they bought an extra ticket on Southwest Airlines…and set it between them safely buckled in. We had a great laugh over that.
RIP Tommy. Sorry we lost touch. Family, and memories , are precious.
For my cousin, Tommy Smith.
I just this evening found out that Tom has passed. Tom was my best friend all through elementary and high school. We did everything together. Several summers Tom and his family invited me on their family vacation. We always had a blast and I loved his folks as they were so good to me. We lost contact after high school going our separate ways. I have such good memories of Tom. For years we were like brothers. I’m so sorry that I just now found out about his death. I also have great memories of his brother Chuck. Tom and his family were great people and I loved them dearly.