Tommy Lee Walton

Mr. Tommy Lee (Tom) Walton was born in Texarkana, Arkansas on February 10, 1937 to the late Gertrude Houff and Theadore Walton. He was the husband of Deborah Mims Walton and father of eight children.  Mr. Walton went home to be with the Lord on March 16, 2024 at the age of 87.  

Tom attended Booker T. Washington High School where he was senior class president and captain of the basketball team. Afterwards, he received a BS degree in Pre-Medicine in 1958 from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.  After graduation he was inspired to go into education and earned a Masters of Arts in Educational Administration from Atlanta University.  As an educator, he taught science, coached basketball, served as Principal of an elementary school and a high school, and led a school district as its Superintendent.   

After retiring from education in 1966, he served in middle and top management positions in five Fortune 500 companies including:   Texas Instruments, Dupont, Motorola, Burroughs, and Digital Equipment Corporations.  Tom was also an entrepreneur,  starting businesses including Cuplex that built circuits for the electronics industry and Delta Dimensions that provided low-voltage security systems to commercial establishments.  In addition to his professional endeavors, in 2016 he wrote a book, Eliminating the Evils of Gerrymandering chronicling the impact of segregation on minorities and their communities.  

Tom loved the Lord and was a faithful and active member of Cedar Grove Baptist Church in Simpsonville, SC.  He was deeply committed to his church and prior to his declining health, served as Sunday School teacher, A Moment with the Children facilitator and member of various committees.  Beyond his church, he also positively impacted the community by leading and working on several boards including Phyllis Wheatley, SHARE, Within Reach, the American Red Cross, Cities in Schools, and the United Way.  

Left to cherish his fond memories are his wife, Deborah who he adored and with whom he enjoyed sharing life, a brother, Earl Douglas Walton (Debra), eight children,  Lawanda Walton, Trent Walton, Sr. (Vivian), Sheila Renae Walton-Moore (Robert),  Alvin Dwayne Clardy (Marquita). Eric Walton, Kelvin Wilkerson “Butch”, Tommy  Walton, II, Dorian Leigh Long (Richard, Jr), a devoted stepson, Rodney Mims (Cindy) and his grandchildren and great-grandchildren lovingly called him Quack, Quack, along with a host of other relatives and friends.  

Mr. Walton enthusiastically embraced life and accomplished much.  His greatest accomplishment however was giving his life to Christ.  So, although we will miss him, we rejoice in the blessed hope that we shall meet again in the presence of our Almighty God.

 Funeral Services: Monday, March 25, 2024, 2:00pm, at Cedar Grove Missionary Baptist Church, Simpsonville, SC, with interment private.