Tommy Norwood

Tommy Lee Norwood passed from this life on June 2, 2024, at the age of 81, in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Tom was born on September 24, 1942, in Fremont, Ohio, the son of Theodore William and Cathrine Louise (Hamilton) Norwood.  Tom grew up and attended school in Mannford, Oklahoma, graduating from Mannford High School with the Class of 1961.  Following high school, Tom began working for Trower Company, then later accepted a position with ATT Kellogg wiring silo sites.  While residing in Abilene, Texas, he was introduced to the love of his life, Sharon Dee Vancil.  The couple was later united in marriage on September 1, 1962, in Mexico across the border from Laredo, Texas.  In early 1963, Tom and Sharon moved to Mannford where he worked for his father at the local DX Gas Station.   They then returned to Texas where Tom gained employment at Sherwin Williams in Garland, Texas.  In 1966, Tom was drafted into the service of his country in the United States Army.  Tom served in Saigon, Vietnam, until he was honorably discharged in May of 1968.    During his time in the U.S. Army, Tom received the following decorations and citations: Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Marksman Rifle, Vietnam Service Medal with one Bronze Star, as well as the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal with Device.  

Tom and Sharon were reunited following his time in the military and returned to Mannford, Oklahoma.  He spent several years working at Armco Steel.  During that time Tom and Sharon received the call of their dreams from Tom's cousin about a precious baby girl.  Their daughter, Melissa Lea Norwood was born on July 11, 1978.   In 1981, Tom began working at Continental Oil, which took the family to Dubai, UAE where Tom worked as the offshore production foreman.   While in Dubai they were able to travel extensively, visiting 37 different countries. The family transferred back to the states in 1990 and lived in Kingfisher, Oklahoma. Tom retired from Continental Oil in 1992 due to medical issues.  They later sold their home, purchased a motorhome, and began traveling throughout the United States.  Tom and Sharon would spend most of their Winters in Weslaco, Texas, and in 2019, they returned to Oklahoma, making their home in Edmond.  Following the death of their daughter, Missy, Tom and Sharon moved to Broken Arrow in 2022, where they have continued to reside.

Tom was a faithful Christian and a member of the Church of Christ.  The family was very important to Tom, calling his brothers and other members of family daily.  Tom spent many hours at his lathe shaping acrylic and wood into beautiful pens for his family and friends.  He also loved traveling and seeing different parts of the World.

Survivors are his wife Sharon of the home; four siblings Don Norwood and his wife Wanda of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; Paul Norwood and his wife Donna Norwood of Sand Springs, Oklahoma; Cindy Cooper of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Ray Norwood and his wife Stacey of Jenks, Oklahoma and a host of other relatives and friends.  In addition to his parents, Tom was preceded in death by a daughter, Melissa Norwood, one brother, Ted Norwood, a sister-in-law, Sandra Norwood, and a brother-in-law, Allen Cooper.

Services will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 5, 2024, at the Church of Christ in Mannford, Oklahoma, with Mike Baskett officiating. A burial will follow in the Oak Hill Cemetery under the direction of Chapman-Black Funeral Home. Friends and family may visit an online guest book and memorial page for Tommy at www.chapman-black.com.

In lieu of flowers, you may make a donation to  https://t2t.org/fallen-first-responder-home-program/