Thomas “Tom” Walsman, age 75, passed away peacefully on Thursday, September 26, 2024, at Hope Center Memory Care in Fayetteville, Georgia. Born January 26th, 1949, in Batesville, Indiana, he is the son of Robert and Dorothy (Nee: Day) Walsman. He married Barbara Lynn Olson on May 22, 1971, in Crown Point, Indiana. Tom spent his entire working career in the kitchen and bath design industry alongside his father at Walsman’s Supply, before he decided to retire.
Tom enjoyed, whether it be on TV or in person, all kinds of motorsports, especially the Indianapolis 500. He loved playing golf, watching football and “piddling” in the yard as his family used to call it.
Tom knew every word to every Beatles song up to the day he passed away. He loved Elvis, John Denver, Elton John and Neil Diamond. He introduced his love of music to his two children at a very early age and took them to their first concert to see Paul McCartney. His daughter recalls learning the Beatles song, “Rocky Raccoon” at a very early age, as her dad named her favorite stuffed animal, which happened to be a raccoon, “Rocky” and that would be her nightly lullaby at bedtime.
Tom’s true love were his 3 grandsons, Charles “Charlie”, Maxwell “Max”, and Leo. His face would light up every time he saw them and would always say, “get over here and give ol’ Papaw a hug!” He followed them to the golf course, football and soccer fields, and to their basketball games. Charlie recalls the days of Papaw Camp, when he’d spend the day with him assembling model cars and playing billiards.
Tom leaves behind his daughter, Lynn Anne (Kurt Raabe), and 3 grandsons, of Fayetteville, Georgia; his son, Jonathan Walsman of Los Angeles, California, his brother Robert “Snork” and sister-in-law Mary Anne Walsman, and his nephew and nieces.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Robert “Bob” and Dorothy “Dot” Walsman and his wife, Barbara “Barb” Lynn Walsman. While his loved ones will miss his presence here on earth, we know he has finally been reunited with Barb after many years without her.
Calling is Thursday, October 10th at 10:00 am – Noon at Weigel Funeral Home in Batesville. Memorial services follow at 12:00 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association to help fight Alzheimer’s. For online condolences go to www.weigelfh.com.