Thomas John "Tom" Smalldon Ii

Thomas John "Tom" Smalldon II, 81, of Olathe, Kansas, passed away on Wednesday, August 21, 2024.

Tom was born on February 27, 1943, in Port Huron, Michigan to Thomas and Lois (Kiddey) Smalldon. Tom’s genius for mechanics/Electronics showed itself when his mom caught him at age 5, repairing a wall socket. By third & fourth grade he was doing all the small engine repair at his dad’s automotive shop.

Tom chose to serve in the Air Force where he could get good electronics instruction. He served in Pakistan for 27 months using his newly acquired electronic training.

In fall of 1970, Tom drove his grandparents to Florida for the winter. Being a new Christian, he wanted them to go to a good Nazarene church. He “happened” to choose the little church in Kissimmee where Nancy grew up and was now a song leader. Walking down the aisle to the platform she glanced back over her shoulder, and he was looking at her! It was love at first sight, a courtship by correspondence, and 6 months later on June 19, 1971, they were married.

A year into their marriage, Tom decided to go to the Nazarene Bible College in Colorado Springs, CO. Though he never received a degree, he was given a good biblical foundation by instructors like Dr. G.B. Williamson, Norman Oke and Milo Arnold.

Tom realized with the help of good counsel that he should remain in the automotive field as an instructor. He loved his work and when he retired in 2001, he had another dream come true, having his own little business building electronics training boards for teaching basic electricity/electronics as it pertained to automotive systems. High schools and universities all over the country are using his boards. He was also heavily into skills contests where his boards were used as one of the automotive stations.

Tom was a maker & always had a project going. He also loved cats & fed the neighborhood cats & made sure they were warm & sheltered in the winter.

He was a reader of good books, loving the works of CS Lewis, AW Toner, E. Stanley Jones and Dallas Willard.

He is preceded in death by his parents.

Tom is survived by his wife, Nancy C. Smalldon, brother Richard Smalldon and sister Kitty Johnston.

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