THOMAS COBURN

1948 - 2020

Thomas Allen Coburn, M.D.
March 14, 1948 - March 28, 2020

TULSA, OK
Our beloved husband, father and grandfather lost his valiant battle with cancer on March 28, 2020. Although he fought cancer for many years, he did not allow it to define him. He worked tirelessly for the country that he loved so dearly. Tom was born on March 14, 1948 in Casper, Wyoming to O.W. Coburn and Anita Joy Allen Coburn. He was blessed with two brothers, David and Jim, and a sister, Mary Coburn Carriere. The family moved to Muskogee, Oklahoma in 1950, where Tom spent a childhood that he remembered with great fondness. He considered the friendships that he made during that time to be a great blessing of his life; these friendships continued to bring him joy and laughter until his death. He and Carolyn were members of First Baptist Church Muskogee, where they grew up together, were baptized, and later married. After graduating from Central High School, he attended Oklahoma State University where he received a degree in Accounting and forged many lasting friendships as a member of Sigma Nu Fraternity. In 1968, he married his high school sweetheart, Carolyn Denton and they celebrated their fifty-first wedding anniversary last December. They had three daughters, Callie Coburn Bonds (Jeff), Katie Coburn Boatright (Jay), and Sarah Coburn Rothermel (Chris). After graduating from OSU, Tom and Carolyn moved to Virginia to work for the family business, Coburn Optical. When the company was sold, he changed course and attended medical school at the University of Oklahoma. Upon graduation, he returned to Muskogee, where he happily joined the practice of Dr. Virgil Matthews and Dr. Virgil Gray - two doctors that he greatly admired. He cherished the wisdom that he gained from both of these wonderful mentors. Practicing medicine was his joy; he considered delivering babies one of the greatest privileges of his life. (Carolyn would like to add that many a family vacation was planned around the due date of a beloved patient.) He had great admiration and gratitude for the many doctors and nurses that he worked with on a daily basis. In 1994, Tom felt called to run for Congress. He served three terms in the House of Representatives and ten years in the U.S. Senate. He had great admiration and appreciation for his wonderful staff; he believed they were the best on the Hill. During his years in Washington, he developed friendships with many people from both sides of the aisle. He grew to realize that relationships were far more important than political philosophy. The relationship that was most important to Tom, however, was that with his Savior, Jesus Christ. His steadfast faith was an inspiration to his family and will be an enduring legacy for his children and nine beloved grandchildren. In 2015, Tom and Carolyn moved to Tulsa, where they enjoyed being near their children and grandchildren and where he was able to slow down and play a little golf with new friends. Tom and Carolyn joined South Tulsa Baptist Church and greatly enjoyed the fellowship. Not one to ever truly slow down, Tom continued to work for Convention of States, a cause in which he passionately believed. Tom was very grateful for a life that was full of blessings. He was an inspiration to so many and will be greatly missed. His children will always be grateful for his examples of leadership, hard work, and quiet generosity. A memorial service will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Crossover Scholarship Fund for the Crossover Preparatory Academy at crossoverscholarshipfund.org. Tom was also very passionate about his work for Convention of States; donations can be made at conventionofstates.com