Thomas Orion Suttle

Tom grew up on a farm in Freestone County with his parents, uncle, 3 sisters, and brother. His family attended Freestone Church of Christ where he was baptized at the age of 13. Tom graduated from Teague High School with the class of 1951. He served in the United States Air Force and received an Honorable Discharge in 1967 after eight years of service. His duty stations included service in Texas, Utah, Japan, Labrador, Illinois, and Mississippi. Tom retired from Ethyl/Albemarle Corporation after 36 years of employment where he worked in Quality Control and Operations.

In 1960 Tom became a member of the Shaw Street Church of Christ in Pasadena, Texas where he met and married Wanda Gwin in 1962. The congregation at Shaw Street later relocated and became the Burke Road Church of Christ, where Tom and Wanda were members and faithfully served the Lord’s Church in various capacities. Together they served in the greeting ministry, as supervisors in the preschool children’s classes and in children’s church. Additionally, Tom served on the Children’s Center Board of Directors for a number of years. Tom also served as a Deacon for a few years and then served as an Elder for 23 years, stepping down from that role in 2000. For the last three years, Tom and Wanda have been members of Southbelt Church of Christ in Pasadena, Texas where they continued in faithful service to the Lord.

After retiring, Tom and Wanda enjoyed taking many trips together across the southwest and to Branson, Missouri, among other places. Some of his hobbies included cooking, reading, working crossword puzzles, enjoying his grandchildren immensely, and golfing with special friends several times a week.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Lois Suttle, a special uncle Wallace Demp Suttle, his sister Frankie “Sis” Dieckow, and his brother Billy Ray Suttle.

He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Wanda “Lou” Suttle of Pasadena, Texas, three daughters, Terri Ann Gabriel and husband John of LaPorte, Texas, Traci Dawn Strauss of Katy, Texas, and Brenda Kay Ellis and husband Stephen of Pasadena, Texas; six grandchildren, Ryan Armstrong, Natalie and Emily Strauss, and Courtney, Kylie, and Bethany Ellis; two sisters, Louise Wilson and husband Joe Max of Teague, Texas, Nell Huffman and husband Harvey of Pasadena, Texas, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many friends.