Obituary for Thomas Lee Gramling, Jr.
Lowell-Tims Funeral Home
1100 E. Tamarack Road
Altus, Oklahoma 73521
(580) 482-1233
GRAMLING
Thomas Lee "T.L."Gramling, age 90, of Altus, Oklahoma, passed away early Friday morning, May 6, 2016 at Jackson County Memorial Hospital in Altus.
T.L. was born in Altus on July 22, 1925 to Thomas Lee and Ethel (Pistole) Gramling. He grew up and spent his entire life in the Altus area and was active in church and was a newspaper carrier at a very early age. During his senior year at Altus High School, T.L. was inducted into the United States Army Air Corps. He was fortunate to return on leave to graduate with his class of 1944. After graduation, he returned to his base and served our country during World War II. After his discharge from the service, he returned to Altus and served as circulation manager at the Altus Times Democrat. Gramling met and later married his sweetheart of 65 years, Nelda F. Johnson, on March 1, 1947. After eight years with the Altus Times Democrat and four years at the United States Postal Service office of finance, Gramling left to attend the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin. Upon graduation, he began his thirty-three year career in banking. He retired as president and CEO of Home State Bank in Hobart, Oklahoma. T.L. was involved with city government in the city of Altus for many years. First being elected to the Altus City Council in 1989. He served seven years on the council, became Mayor in 1996 and was re-elected three times until his retirement in 2011. As mayor, he was instrumental in bringing a new water treatment plant to the city, building the Centennial Bypass, overseeing the development of a new Department of Human Services facility, and led the campaign to raise money for building the Memorial Chapel in the Altus Cemetery. In 2007, Gramling was honored as Mayor of the Year for the State of Oklahoma. Gramling was the first President of the Southwest Oklahoma Development Association Board and served as a member for thirty-three years. He also served on numerous other boards and volunteered for several organizations including: Altus South Economic Development, Farm Credit Bureau, Altus Chamber of Commerce, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Masonic Temple, Meals on Wheels, and Jackson County Memorial Hospital volunteer auxiliary. He was a friend of Altus Air Force Base and a long time member and deacon of the First Baptist Church.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Nelda, his brothers, Dean and Clifton, and his sisters, Doris Taylor and Geneva Swanson. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Jan and Ron Taylor of Richardson, Texas, his son and daughter-in-law, Scott and Jane Gramling of Springfield, Missouri, his granddaughter, Shelbi Nicole Taylor of Garland, Texas, his brother and sister-in-law, Gene and Beverly Gramling of Ft. Worth, Texas, his sister-in-law, Judy Gramling of Denton, Texas, and many special nieces and nephews.
The Gramling family would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the staff at Jackson County Memorial Hospital and the Tamarack Assisted Living for the exceptional care and compassion extended to T.L. and the entire family.
The family will receive friends at visitation Friday, May 13, 2016 from 6:00 pm until 7:00 pm at Lowell-Tims Funeral Home in Altus.
Funeral services will be at 2:00 pm, Saturday, May 14, 2016 at the First Baptist Church in Altus with Dr. Jeff Moore and Pastor Doug Altom officiating. Interment will follow at Altus City Cemetery with Military Honors rendered by the Altus Air Force Base Blue Knights.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the T.L. Gramling Memorial Fund at the Western Oklahoma State College, 2801 N. Main, Altus, OK 73521, (580) 477-2000.
Arrangements are under the direction of Lowell-Tims Funeral Home Crematory.
To sign the online guest book and share memories with the family please visit www.Lowell-Tims.com
05/13/2016
6:00 PM
7:00 PM
Visitation
Lowell-Tims Funeral Home Altus, Oklahoma
05/14/2016
2:00 PM
Funeral
First Baptist Church Altus, Oklahoma
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1100 E. Tamarack Road
Altus, Oklahoma 73521
(580) 482-1233
GRAMLING
Thomas Lee "T.L."Gramling, age 90, of Altus, Oklahoma, passed away early Friday morning, May 6, 2016 at Jackson County Memorial Hospital in Altus.
T.L. was born in Altus on July 22, 1925 to Thomas Lee and Ethel (Pistole) Gramling. He grew up and spent his entire life in the Altus area and was active in church and was a newspaper carrier at a very early age. During his senior year at Altus High School, T.L. was inducted into the United States Army Air Corps. He was fortunate to return on leave to graduate with his class of 1944. After graduation, he returned to his base and served our country during World War II. After his discharge from the service, he returned to Altus and served as circulation manager at the Altus Times Democrat. Gramling met and later married his sweetheart of 65 years, Nelda F. Johnson, on March 1, 1947. After eight years with the Altus Times Democrat and four years at the United States Postal Service office of finance, Gramling left to attend the Graduate School of Banking at the University of Wisconsin. Upon graduation, he began his thirty-three year career in banking. He retired as president and CEO of Home State Bank in Hobart, Oklahoma. T.L. was involved with city government in the city of Altus for many years. First being elected to the Altus City Council in 1989. He served seven years on the council, became Mayor in 1996 and was re-elected three times until his retirement in 2011. As mayor, he was instrumental in bringing a new water treatment plant to the city, building the Centennial Bypass, overseeing the development of a new Department of Human Services facility, and led the campaign to raise money for building the Memorial Chapel in the Altus Cemetery. In 2007, Gramling was honored as Mayor of the Year for the State of Oklahoma. Gramling was the first President of the Southwest Oklahoma Development Association Board and served as a member for thirty-three years. He also served on numerous other boards and volunteered for several organizations including: Altus South Economic Development, Farm Credit Bureau, Altus Chamber of Commerce, American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Masonic Temple, Meals on Wheels, and Jackson County Memorial Hospital volunteer auxiliary. He was a friend of Altus Air Force Base and a long time member and deacon of the First Baptist Church.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Nelda, his brothers, Dean and Clifton, and his sisters, Doris Taylor and Geneva Swanson. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Jan and Ron Taylor of Richardson, Texas, his son and daughter-in-law, Scott and Jane Gramling of Springfield, Missouri, his granddaughter, Shelbi Nicole Taylor of Garland, Texas, his brother and sister-in-law, Gene and Beverly Gramling of Ft. Worth, Texas, his sister-in-law, Judy Gramling of Denton, Texas, and many special nieces and nephews.
The Gramling family would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the staff at Jackson County Memorial Hospital and the Tamarack Assisted Living for the exceptional care and compassion extended to T.L. and the entire family.
The family will receive friends at visitation Friday, May 13, 2016 from 6:00 pm until 7:00 pm at Lowell-Tims Funeral Home in Altus.
Funeral services will be at 2:00 pm, Saturday, May 14, 2016 at the First Baptist Church in Altus with Dr. Jeff Moore and Pastor Doug Altom officiating. Interment will follow at Altus City Cemetery with Military Honors rendered by the Altus Air Force Base Blue Knights.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the T.L. Gramling Memorial Fund at the Western Oklahoma State College, 2801 N. Main, Altus, OK 73521, (580) 477-2000.
Arrangements are under the direction of Lowell-Tims Funeral Home Crematory.
To sign the online guest book and share memories with the family please visit www.Lowell-Tims.com
05/13/2016
6:00 PM
7:00 PM
Visitation
Lowell-Tims Funeral Home Altus, Oklahoma
05/14/2016
2:00 PM
Funeral
First Baptist Church Altus, Oklahoma
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