JOPLIN, Mo. —
Tom Storm, age 77, of Joplin, Mo., passed away at 10:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2013, at his home following a lengthy illness.
Tom was born Dec. 4, 1935, in Galesburg, Mo., and had lived in the Webb City-Joplin area most of his life.
Tom was a graduate of Alba High School, N.E.O. A&M College in Miami, Okla., and received his Bachelor's degree from Pittsburg State University. Tom served his country from 1953 to 1957, with the U.S. Air Force. He was employed with Eagle Picher Industries for 29 years where he worked on the Patriot Battery Systems. He later worked as a consultant with Lockheed-Martin and Raytheon Corporations and also did inspections on projects relating to the Israeli Government. Tom retired in December 2012. Tom was a member of the First Community Church of Joplin. Tom loved sports and for over 30 years was the timekeeper for Missouri Southern men's basketball games. The university honored Tom in 2002, by inducting him into the MSSU Sports Hall of Fame. Tom had a lifelong love affair with airplanes and flying. In 1992, Tom fulfilled his dream of flying a P51 Mustang. He and Bunny Newton traveled from Joplin to Kissimmee, Fla., and participated in a P51 dogfight.
Tom married Diane Hosp Nov. 25, 1980, in Tulsa, Okla. She survives.
Additional survivors include two sons, Greg Storm and wife, Mindy, Joplin, and Brian Storm and wife, Marla, Carrollton, Texas; two daughters, Julie Storm and husband, Jeff Stevenson, Webb City, Mo., and Captain Megan Pflug and husband, Major Jason Pflug, stationed with the U.S. Air Force at Nellis AFB, Las Vegas, Nev.; three sisters, Jenna Hodges and husband, Jim, Springfield, Mo., Sharon Lombard, Auke Bay, Alaska, and Nancy Johnson and husband, Rusty, Overland Park, Kan.; nine grandchildren, Breanna Newkirk (J.D.), Dustin Storm (Sara), Sydney Pirtle, (Chris), McKenna Tilton (Jon), Spencer Arehart, Evan Arehart, Collin Storm, Ellie Storm and Madison Pflug; and seven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Betty Jean Storm and Veva Mayfield.
Services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the Mason-Woodard Chapel with Rev. Craig Tally and Rev. Brock Watson officiating. Burial will follow in the Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 7 p.m. Friday at the mortuary.
Memorial contributions are requested to the First Community Church in care of the mortuary.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Mason-Woodard Mortuary, of Joplin.
Online condolences may be made at www.masonwoodard.com
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