Herbert Thomas “Tom” Francis was born December 21, 1945, in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, to Auttie Oval Francis and Alice Henry Francis. He died Tuesday, September 2, 2025, in Owasso, Oklahoma, at the age of 79 years. Tom completed his secondary education in Wilburton, Oklahoma, and graduated with the Wilburton High School Class of 1964. He attended Eastern Oklahoma State College in Wilburton. It at that time he was called in to service with the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War.
Tom was married on May 21, 1966, in Wilburton, Oklahoma, to Linda Belz. They have made their home in Owasso, Oklahoma, since 1981. He was a faithful parishioner of St. Henry Catholic Church in Owasso. He spent most of his professional career in the heat and air industry and was co-owner of Royal Durham Supply in Tulsa, Kansas City, and Wichita. Tom enjoyed a variety of pastimes such as traveling. He had earned his pilot’s license and enjoyed flying small aircraft. He was fond of Corvettes and loved fast cars. Tom was an avid golfer and could often be found on the golf course. He enjoyed listening to country music and going to concerts. He dearly loved his family, especially his grandchildren who affectionately knew him as “Granddad”.
Those he leaves behind who hold a lifetime of memories include:
His wife of over 59 years; Linda
Daughter; Leah Bowles and husband William
Grandchildren; Makenzie Ashlock, Rylan Ashlock, and Brady Ashlock
And a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, and brothers, Auttie Francis, Jr. and John Francis.
A Rosary Prayer service will be held 7:00 Thursday, September 4, 2025, at St. Henry Catholic Church with a Funeral Mass 10:30 a.m. Friday, September 5, 2025, with Father Richard Bradley officiating. Serving as casket bearers will be Detrick Carroll, Jim Hunt, Matt Masters, Gordon Crawford, Ron Simmons, Matt Shelton, Gary Wendell, and Robert Taylor. Honorary casket bearers will be Stanley Funderburg and Mike Pounds. Committal service and interment will follow at St. Therese Catholic Cemetery in Collinsville, Oklahoma. The family requests memorial contributions be made in Tom’s memory to Catholic Charities of Eastern Oklahoma, 2450 North Harvard Avenue, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 74115, or Animal Rescue Foundation, 5201 South Yale Avenue, Tulsa, Oklahoma, 74135, or www.arftulsa.org. Arrangements and services were entrusted to Mowery Funeral Service of Owasso. www.moweryfs.com
