Tommy L. Oldridge (T.O.) of Lowell peacefully passed at his life-long home on February 02, 2022, the very home in which he was born 83 years earlier. Tommy spent a lifetime pursuing his passion of farming. A highlight of his farming career was developing and maintaining a 100+ acre Concord grape vineyard on the family farm. Tommy’s experience and knowledge of grapes, combined with his uncanny ability to build, weld, and fabricate turned a vision of mechanized grape pruning, a process many experts said was not possible, into reality as evidenced by numerous US patents. Row-cropping, milking cows, and producing and supplying locals with homegrown fruits and vegetables at the bright yellow Oldridge Farm Fresh Produce stand located on old Highway 71 in the late 80’s adorns his farming resume. Tommy was an avid and decorated firearms sportsman, being inducted into the Arkansas Trap Shooting Hall of Fame in 1993. Among hundreds of shooting accolades, Tommy’s top sporting achievement was breaking 591 out of 600 targets in 1967, a record that continues to stand today. In 2000, Tommy married his soulmate, Onedia. They truly enjoyed a great life together…fishing, traveling, fishing, visiting with friends, fishing, and spending many winters in south Texas fishing.
Tommy is survived by his wife, Onedia Oldridge, and her son Scott Dover and his wife Sheila of Pea Ridge, AR, a brother Jerry Oldridge and wife Eloise, of Sherwood, AR, a nephew, Bill Oldridge and wife Carol of Sherwood, AR, a niece Elizabeth Oldridge McNew and husband Wade of North Little Rock, a nephew, Michael Oldridge of Sherwood, AR, a niece Michelle Oldridge Arrington and husband Andy of Sherwood, AR, a nephew Todd Stephens and wife Melissa of Lowell, AR, a nephew Clay Stephens and wife Paige of St. Paul, AR, long-time comrade, Raphael Reza of Springdale, AR, along with many great-nieces and great-nephews. Tommy is preceded in death by his parents Earl and Lila Oldridge and a sister Mary Jane Oldridge Stephens.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.RollinsFuneral.com for the Oldridge family.
