Thomas Chatham Gillock, age 96, of Arkansas City passed away at the Winfield Memorial Hospital on Tuesday, June 15, from congestive heart failure and pneumonia. The past sixteen months he had been residing at Winfield Resthaven, Inc.

Tom was born on July 23, 1913 to Charles Gillock and Belle (Chatham) Gillock at their family farm northeast of Arkansas City. At age five, Tom's family moved to another farm northwest of Arkansas City where he grew up and was his home at the time of his death. He attended the Oak Grove Rural School and Arkansas City High School.

Tom and Ruth E. Huggins of Udall, Kansas were married February 26, 1944 in Winfield at the First Methodist Church Parsonage. He and Ruth had one son in 1947, Thomas Wayne, who resides in Choctaw, Oklahoma with his wife Joy Leuthard.

Tom joined the Navy in September 1942 and was discharged at Pensacola, Florida in May 1945 with the rank of Aviation Machinist Mate, First Class.

Tom's work career included operating his family's dairy farm because of his father's illness; working in Arkansas City for Carter's Auto Parts for several years and for the Santa Fe Railway in Oklahoma and briefly in California. He became a partner with Everett Baldwin in 1947 with the Baldwin Oil Company. Mr. Baldwin became ill and the company was sold to Carl and Iyla Mason becoming Mason Oil Company where Tom was an employee. The company was then sold to Donald and Dee Ann (Mason) Ward and Tom continued working for Mason Oil Company until it closed. He actively worked until his late 80's.

Tom was a 31 year member and very active in Kiwanis International, a member of the American Legion Post #18 and lifetime member of the Disabled American Veterans in Arkansas City. He and Ruth were also long time members of the First United Methodist Church in Arkansas City where he was an usher for many years.

Tom loved farming, reading and watching T.V. He was known as a practical joker and enjoyed teasing friends and family.

Preceding him in death were both parents, his three brothers Paul, Robert and Gordon and two sisters, Ruth and Ilabelle.

Tom is survived by his wife, Ruth Gillock, of the home, his son Tom Gillock and daughter-in-law, Joy Leuthard of Choctaw, OK; five nieces: Carolyn Ratzlaff of Fullerton, CA, Marilyn Menghini, Great Falls, MT, Joy Pankey, Savannah, GA , Pauline Bowers, Long Beach, CA, Sharon Smith, Fredricksburg, VA and one nephew, Bruce Grove, Edmond, OK. He has other great nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, June 18, 2010, at 3:00 P.M., at the First United Methodist Church, 2448 Edgemont Drive in Arkansas City. As he wished, he will be cremated by Miles Funeral Service in Winfield.

Memorials, in lieu of flowers, may be sent to Arkansas City Kiwanis Club, American Legion Post #18, First United Methodist Church of Arkansas City or the American Heart Association. Contributions may be made through the funeral home.