Thomas “Tom” Earl Flowers passed away in his home on May 13th at the age of 80, surrounded by his children and his significant other, Gayle Williams, after a 10-month battle with stomach cancer. He was a beloved father, grandad, brother, uncle, and friend.
Tom was born on August 13, 1942, and grew up on his family’s farm in Churubusco, Indiana. He attended Purdue University where he was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon Fraternity, earning a degree in Mathematics in 1965. He worked as a teacher before moving to Jamaica with the Peace Corps. He then went on to earn his MBA at the IU School of Business. Upon graduating, he intentionally sought out a banking career on the west coast, where he lived for most of the next 30 years.
He would be the first to tell you that he lived a full, rich life. He had a “glass half-full” outlook up until the very end. He co-owned and operated a shrimping boat in Florida, ran 5 marathons, and rode through 48 states on his motorcycle. He worked as a mentor in the business school at Butler University and served on the Board of Directors at Fairbanks Recovery Center. His involvement with AA was an essential part of his life for the last 22 years. In his “spare” time he enjoyed hiking, logging hundreds of miles trekking across England. He touched many lives and made lifelong friendships through the years.
The births of grandkids brought Tom back home again to Indiana. He is survived by his children Katie Flowers of Fishers, IN (children Abbie and Jacob Quesenberry and Lee Flowers); Elizabeth Ruiz of Fishers, IN (husband Jim and sons Gabriel, William, and Matthew), and John Flowers of Granada Hills, CA (wife Jen and daughters Kira and Bella); and sister Marcia Cuff of Fort Wayne, IN.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Laura Flowers, brother Richard “Dick” Flowers, and grandson Joseph Quesenberry.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Tom’s name to Butler University Advancement, Attn: Graham Honaker, Jordan Hall 010, 4600 Sunset Avenue, Indpls, IN 46208.
Memorial/ Celebration of Life
June 3, 2023, 2:00 pm
River Glen Country Club
12010 Clubhouse Drive
Fishers, IN 46038
Visits: 20
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