Thomas Edmund Weichel was born just south of Colony, Ok on November 24, 1942, to Edmund and Minnie Mabel ( Sappington) Weichel and passed away on Tuesday, July 18, 2023, at Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City having reached the age of 80 years, 7 months and 23 days.

Tom grew up working on the family farm and came to know Jesus at the age of 13 before graduating from Colony High School in 1958.  Tom received a Bachelor's Degree in Math and Physics from Southwestern Oklahoma State University in Weatherford in the spring of 1964 and that same year he married Elaine Francis (Willits) Weichel from Oney, OK.

Tom accepted an offer of employment with the National Aeronautics Space Association (NASA) and he and Elaine moved to Houston and made their home in Friendswood, Texas.  Tom worked on various unmanned and manned programs including the Apollo Program which put men on the moon.  Tom's last mission to work was Apollo 13 for which he was awarded the presidential medal of freedom for that team's efforts to return those astronauts to earth.  Tom moved back to the Colony area to raise his family in the tradition of farming and ranching.  Tom also worked for Southwest Oklahoma Development Association and taught physics and math for the school to work program at Caddo Kiowa Technology Center.  Tom served the community through Colony Columbian Memorial Presbyterian Church, the Weatherford Hospital board for 23 years, and the Washita County Rural Water District #2 board for 46 years.  Tom had an amazing ability to remember details about the family history and stories and authored a book on the Weichel family history which we all cherish.

Tom is survived by his wife of 59 years, Elaine Weichel, daughter Tammy and husband Tim Johnson of Atlanta, GA. Son Thomas Jr. and wife Terri Weichel of Lucas, TX.  Brother Jimmy Weichel and wife Jane of Colony, OK.  Grandkids Michael and Ashley Johnson of Tulsa, OK, Britnee and husband Zack Ziegler of Carrollton, GA and Matthew Johnson of Atlanta, GA, John and Maddie Weichel of Atlanta, GA, Emily and Schuyler Logan of Grapevine, TX, Lizzie Weichel of Lucas, TX, and Annie Weichel of Lucas, TX.  Great grandkids Landon, Liam and Brynleigh Johnson and Joyce Weichel. Preceded in death by his parents, Edmund and Mabel Weichel.