Thomas “Tom” James Spillman

Thomas “Tom” James Spillman, age 87, of Atwood, Oklahoma passed away on Monday, January 18, 2021. He was born April 23, 1933 on a dairy farm in Miami County, Kansas to John Lee Spillman and Gladys May (Welborn) Spillman. He was a graduate of Wellsville High School, where he loved playing football.

On October 13, 1951. Tom married the love and light of his life, Margaret “Margie” Ann Adams, in Harrison, Arkansas. They had three children and were married 69 years.

Tom was known for his work ethic. He worked at Sunflower Ammunition Plant near DeSoto, Kansas. In time they were able to buy a farm near the farm where he grew up. There he raised cattle and variety of crops. In addition to farming, Tom ran heavy road construction equipment for Hercules Construction.

In 1976, they sold the farm in Kansas and purchased one in Atwood, Oklahoma. There Tom raised peanuts and cattle and found his way into the oil and gas industry, where he oversaw a gas compression station and pumped wells. Tom gradually retired from farming, and finally at the age of 81, he retired completely, when the last of the wells he faithfully checked were sold.

Tom loved to sing and play the guitar. He and Margie played in a country band at one time. Later, he played and sang regularly in church. Tom also loved hunting quail with his beloved bird dogs, Cindy and Dot. When quail became scare, he turned to shooting clays. He enjoyed gardening, restoring antique Farmall tractors, fishing, and reading about history. Tom especially enjoyed sharing his hobbies with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Tom is preceded in death by his parents, John and Gladys Spillman, and three sisters, Gladys “Mickey” Claunch, Louise KilMartin, and Lorine Mandina.

He is survived by his wife, Margaret Spillman; his children, Richard Spillman, Joyce and Stew Cropper, and Kathy Spillman; his grandchildren Richard Spillman, Julie Spillman, Stacie and Jake Brown, Jodie and Chris Meyer, and Shawna and Mike Ramsey; his great-grandchildren, Brecken, Mitchell, Lucas, Kolbe, Felicity, Josephine, Brandon, Farrah, Calvin, Noah, and Waverly; one sister Mary (Ed) Moyer; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Graveside service will be held at Atwood Cemetery on January 21, 2021 at 10:30 a.m. Pallbearers are Stew Cropper, Jake Brown, Chris Meyers, Mike Ramsey, and Gary DeShields. Honorary Pallbearers are Brecken, Mitchell, Lucas, and Kolbe Brown, Brandon and Calvin Meyer, and Noah Ramsey.

Services are under the direction of Hudson-Phillips Funeral Home, Holdenville, Oklahoma.