John Thomas Spilman

Husband, father, and friend passed away in his sleep in the early hours of Friday March 6th
after a long battle with dementia.

John "Tommy" Spilman was born September 27, 1947 in Raymondville, Texas. The angeliclooking Tommy was forced to take piano lessons, but much preferred to cause mischief receiving regular paddlings. He graduated from Raymondville High School in 1966 at whichwe're told the principal sighed in relief.

Tommy tried college, but preferred having a good time so he enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1967. He served during the Vietnam campaign throughout Southeast Asia including Thailand, where the unfortunate monkey incident occurred. He was honorably discharged while in Spain where he started his family.

Tommy returned to the Rio Grande Valley with his young family in tow ready to take on his true passion, electronic store management. Anyone who knew him knows that he always had to have the newest gadgets. To fund this expensive habit and after an ill-timed stint in 1980s real estate, he became a USPS Rural Carrier. Listening to AM talk radio munching on popcorn and sipping cold coffee throughout his route, he knew no stranger. Always happy to joke around or
help out anyone he met along the way. He often came home with new pets that fared better than that poor monkey.

In 2003 Tommy met Alejandra and he knew he'd met his new partner in life, they were together until the very end. While he would be the first to admit he was far from perfect, he was a great dad and loving husband. His fun loving ways will be dearly missed by all who knew him.

Tommy was preceded in death by his father Thomas P. Spilman and mother Dorthy M. Spilman. He is survived by wife, Alejandra Spilman; his children Thomas Spilman, Alexandra Smith and son-in-law Richard Smith, Candance Spilman, and step-son Ignacio Vaccaro; his grandchildren Madelyn Smith and Trevor Smith; His brother Steve Spilman and his sister-in-law Rita Spilman; his nephew Scott Spilman and niece Ivy Ramirez.

A service will be held Tuesday March 17th at 10am at the Charles W Smith & Sons Funeral Home in Sachse, Texas followed by burial at the DFW National Memorial Cemetery at 1:30pm.