Patriot, veteran, compassionate, small town boy.
These are some of the words to describe our beloved husband, father, brother and papa.
Richard Thomas Oldham was born June 24, 1939 to the late Edgar Murchison and Emma Thomas Oldham. He died on September 13, 2022.
Tom grew up in Vass, where he retired, and loved to spin tails about life in the 1940’s and 1950’s, where everything was simple, and you could buy gas for a quarter.
After graduating from Vass Lakeview High School in 1958, Tom enlisted in the Navy along with three other classmates, from a class of only twenty.
His 32 year military career began at Hospital Corps School in Great Lakes, IL as a Petty Officer 3rd Class and after nine different duty stations he worked his way to Master Chief Petty Officer. He then commissioned in 1972 and served another 18 years retiring as a Commander.
From 1958 to 1990, Tom served his country with honor and devotion. His Navy career took him to Panama, Okinawa, Vietnam, Sicily, and 13 naval bases throughout the United States.
After his retirement, he enjoyed being a stay at home dad, and even a homeschool dad.
Tom loved buying and repairing homes that others regarded as a lost cause. Many a day you could see him in Vass on a ladder wearing cargo shorts, spattered with paint, a shirt with holes and tennis shoes with tall socks. This was our dad and husband. He had a special place in his heart for all people, especially those that needed extra help. He never met a stranger.
He is survived by his wife Ann Scott Oldham, three children; son Wolf Biggerstaff (Fran), daughter Sarah McAuley (Stephen), and daughter Emily Oldham, grandchildren; Ryan, Chase and Maggie Lynn Biggerstaff, and Andrew, Theodore and Lincoln McAuley.
He is also survived by his sisters Sophia Cook (Larry), Lynne Miller (Randy), Emma Williams and brother-in-law Blue McCaskill.
He was preceded in death by his sister Sylvia McCaskill and his son Larry Oldham.
A Memorial Service will be held Friday, September 16, 2022 at 11am at the Cameron-Irby Memorial Park in Vass with Military Honors.
In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Vass-Lakeview Alumni Association.
The family has entrusted services to Cox Memorial Funeral Home & Crematory in Vass.
