Thomas A. Smith

***A Celebration of Life for Thomas A. Smith will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, January 29, 2022 at Hope Chapel, 12480 S. Blackbob Road, Olathe, Kansas  66062.  ***

In the early morning hours of Monday, Dec 13 2021, Thomas A Smith was escorted into Jesus’ presence by the angels on assignment surrounding him. He left this life peacefully, though suddenly and unexpectedly and was surrounded by loved ones.

Tom was born on October 1, 1956 in Beckley, West Virginia. He was the youngest child of Agnes Farmer Smith and William Thomas Smith. Tom is survived by his wife of 35 years, Diane of Baldwin City, his children, Austin and Kristen, and sister Nancy and husband Pete Widdoes and their children Aaron and Courtney Widdoes of Pennsylvania.

His family moved to Newark, DE when Tom was 2 years old. He attended Newark HS where he was active in football, the Madrigal choir, and obtained his Eagle Scout. He completed his BS degree in Civil Engineering in 1978 from the University of Delaware and began his engineering career in Newark.

Tom saw life as a grand adventure, he traveled from Delaware to Jackson Hole in 1981 where he spent a number of years working as an engineer for the forest service, he so loved Jackson Hole his Instagram name was @homesick4tetons. Tom followed his calling into the ministry several years later obtaining his master of divinity degree at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA. While there he met and married his wife Diane Sinclair-Smith in 1986. As a childless couple, for ten year’s they traveled up and down the coast of CA to Mexico, Hawaii, and back to Jackson Hole. Upon graduation from Seminary, Tom began various development positions with Fuller Theological Seminary, Forrest Home Christian Camp, and Central Baptist Seminary in KS.

His first child was born in CA prior to his move to KS. A son Austin, his daughter was born once in KS in 1998, Kristen. He spent 10 years in a pastoral position with a Vineyard church in Overland Park, KS. He was always happiest when he was caring for and helping others, providing marriage services and other shepherding roles. The next season took him back into development positions with Intervarsity and most recently as Senior Director of Transformational Partnerships/Legacy Giving with the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF). He was excited to work with this wonderful organization for the rest of his life. He was so impressed by the morals and integrity of ADF and their fight for life, liberty, truth and freedom.

In 2019, Tom and Diane bought their dream farm in a hilly valley in KS. Tom was the happiest he’d been in years, loving the “Ranch” and all the work it entailed. There are many fond memories of the days working out in the barn fixing stalls, digging drainage ditches around the pond, and stacking hay together and dreaming of shooting the buck he’d been watching on his trail cams.

Tom will forever be missed by his surviving children, Austin Josiah Sinclair Smith, 25 years old who will be residing at the Ranch during a transitional season and Kristen Joy Sinclair Smith, 23 years old who is completing her Master’s Degree at KSU. He instilled his love of the outdoors in them.

Memorial donations may be made to Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) two ways:
1. Give electronically at www.adflegal.org/giveagift
2. Give by phone at (800) 835-5233 and while on the phone be sure to mention that the gift was given in honor of Tom Smith or may be sent in care of Warren-McElwain Mortuary, 120 W. 13th Street, Lawrence, KS 66044.