Obit of Surdick, Thomas A. - Oklahoma County, Oklahoma Submitted by: Gene Phillips 30 Jul 2006 Return to Oklahoma County Archives: http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ok/oklahoma/oklahoma.html ========================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/copyright.htm ========================================================================== ::Hahn-Cook Street & Draper FH--OKC OK Surdick, Thomas A. Thomas A. Surdick, 71, passed away at home on 2-25-03, after a long, courageous, hard-fought battle with non-Hodgkins lymphoma, congestive heart failure and diabetes. He was born on July 28, 1931 in Pittsburgh, PA to Walter and Laura Surdick. Upon graduation from Carrick High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, and served his country during the Korean War. He married his high school sweetheart, Shirley Pollack, on July 21, 1952, and was the father of four sons: Stephen and his wife, Cheryl; James; Mark and his wife Kim; and John. After completing his 4 years in the navy, he obtained his accounting degree at Robert Morris College in Pittsburgh, PA. The family subsequently moved to Texas, Georgia, and finally settled in Oklahoma. He loved trees, and everywhere he lived he planted as many trees as he could at each house. It was under the shade of those same trees that he was renowned for his culinary skills on the barbeque, and his extended family loved visiting and discussing everything from philosophy to football. He had a long career as an executive in the life insurance industry, and was instrumental in the first computerization of several insurance companies in each of the states in which he lived. He loved to travel, and he and his wife visited Russia, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France, Finland, Canada, Mexico, and several cities above the Arctic Circle. He was an avid Oklahoma State University football fan, and he and Shirley attended all the home games, as well as many of the away games for a period of over 20 years. Thomas is survived by his wife, Shirley; his four sons and their wives; three grandchildren: Michael, Michelle and Matthew; several nieces and nephews, and his favorite mother-in-law, Frances Pollack. He will always be loved and missed. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Tree Bank or the charity of your choice. A Memorial Service will be held 10 a.m., Sat., March 1, 2003 at the Hahn-Cook Street & Draper Chapel. Published in the Oklahoman on 2/27/2003. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Return to Oklahoma County Archives: http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ok/oklahoma/oklahoma.html