Obituary for Ralph Donald "Don" Tatum
Ralph Donald Tatum
January 2, 1933- July 22, 2019
Don Tatum, age 86, of Waco, passed away Monday, July 22, 2019.
Don was born in Waco, the son of Thomas Headlee Tatum and Gladys Elaine (McKinley) Tatum. He had one sister, Ardis (Tatum) Bouma. Don graduated from Waco High and Baylor University. He was united in marriage to Martha Sue “Susie” Tatum in 1959 and had four children. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend to many.
Don was a charter faculty member at MCC where he taught physics for 33 years and established the tennis program. He was also a deacon of Park Lake Drive Baptist Church and a member of the Baylor Senior Choir. Don enjoyed playing tennis, biking, running and growing azaleas. He loved spending time with his family and traveling with Susie in retirement.
He was preceded in death by son Richard and survived by son Jim Bob and wife Kim Tatum, daughter Laura and husband Ho Mah, daughter Jennifer and husband Brian Scully, and daughter-in-law Rebecca (Hackman) Tatum. He is also survived by six grandchildren: Tatum, London, Annabelle, Alis, Denise, Alaura, and one great grandchild, Braxton.
A memorial service will be held at Oak Crest Funeral Home in Waco on Saturday, July 27th at 11:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Parkinson’s Voice Project or Prestonwood Pregnancy Center.
January 2, 1933- July 22, 2019
Don Tatum, age 86, of Waco, passed away Monday, July 22, 2019.
Don was born in Waco, the son of Thomas Headlee Tatum and Gladys Elaine (McKinley) Tatum. He had one sister, Ardis (Tatum) Bouma. Don graduated from Waco High and Baylor University. He was united in marriage to Martha Sue “Susie” Tatum in 1959 and had four children. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather and friend to many.
Don was a charter faculty member at MCC where he taught physics for 33 years and established the tennis program. He was also a deacon of Park Lake Drive Baptist Church and a member of the Baylor Senior Choir. Don enjoyed playing tennis, biking, running and growing azaleas. He loved spending time with his family and traveling with Susie in retirement.
He was preceded in death by son Richard and survived by son Jim Bob and wife Kim Tatum, daughter Laura and husband Ho Mah, daughter Jennifer and husband Brian Scully, and daughter-in-law Rebecca (Hackman) Tatum. He is also survived by six grandchildren: Tatum, London, Annabelle, Alis, Denise, Alaura, and one great grandchild, Braxton.
A memorial service will be held at Oak Crest Funeral Home in Waco on Saturday, July 27th at 11:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Parkinson’s Voice Project or Prestonwood Pregnancy Center.