Thomas R. Hataway

Thomas was born in Guyman, Oklahoma on July 19, 1929, and passed over into Glory in the presence of his Lord and Savior on August 4, 2015. He was 86 and had been a resident of Pasadena since 1970. For the past 3 years, Colonial Oaks Assisted Living was his home. Tommie, as he was affectionately known by friends and family, was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and uncle, and was loved by extended family and friends. He was a faithful member of South Main Baptist Church of Pasadena. Thomas loved his country and enlisted in the Army upon graduation from high school. He served proudly with the Army during the end of World War II. After the war, he enrolled in the Air Force ROTC program at Baylor University where he met the love of his life, wife Iris Faye Smith. They were married December 15, 1951. After college graduation, he began his career with the Air Force and served in the Korean War and later in the Viet Nam War. His military career took him all over the world. He is preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Burton and Mary Elsie Hataway; his wife of 55 years, Iris Hataway; brother Homer Hataway; sisters Lenore, Mary Ellen, and Mildred; and infant grandson Eric Michael Gamble. He is survived by his son, Thomas Burton Hataway II and wife Carolyn of Opelika, Alabama; daughter Iris Yvonne Gamble and husband Norris Gamble of Pasadena; granddaughter LauraAnne Bethany Madl and husband Jonathan Madl of The Colony, Texas; granddaughter Lindsay Shea Simmons and husband Trent Simmons of Opelika, Alabama; great-grandchildren Paige Madl, Eddie Madl, Ella Madl, and Creed Simmons; and numerous nieces and nephews. Services will be Friday, August 7, at South Main Baptist Church, beginning with visitation at noon and a celebration of his life at 1:00. Interment will follow at Grand View Memorial Park on Spencer Highway at 2:30. The family extends special thanks to the staff at Colonial Oaks Assisted Living for all the help and love they give to their residents and families.