Tommy Lee (Tom) Sodders

1945-2020

Tommy Lee Sodders was born August 13, 1945 in Kansas City, Kansas to Mauvis F. Sodders (Harvey) and Edward Lee Sodders.  He grew up the middle child to older brother William Edward (Eddie) and younger sister Janice Kay.  Tommy graduated from Shawnee Mission High School in 1963 and was part of the track and pole-vaulting teams.  He attended University of Kansas, where he was a proud Jayhawk and graduated with a Business degree.  Tommy met his wife Darlyne VeLoise at the Shawnee pool the summer before college, but they waited to date until she was in High School.  They were married in 1968.  He worked in the retail industry opening some of the first Target stores in Dallas and Oklahoma where his oldest daughter, Danielle VeLoise, was born and finally settling in Houston, TX where his younger daughter, Whitney Nicole, was born and they raised their girls.  Tommy later worked in the grocery industry as the manager for Randalls stores and finally for Conseco Insurance.  Above all else, he was a people person with a good sense of humor who thrived being around people and helping others.  He was a hard worker sometimes having more than one job at a time to support his family and he taught this work ethic to both his daughters.  He never met a stranger and was always known for his fun-loving attitude and corny jokes.

Tommy was a devoted husband and family man who enjoyed taking family vacations in their travel van to places all over the US.  Once the kids were grown, he and Darlyne enjoyed vacationing in Mexico at their time share resorts where he was able to enjoy golf and swimming.  They loved tropical vacations and even shared memorable family trips with his daughters and their families.  He was so proud of his granddaughters, Morgan, Cameryn and Jillian and attended their school activities always cheering for them on the sidelines with his big voice.  He has always been a lover of animals especially dogs starting with their first dog Punkin when he and Darlyne were first married and finally the yorkie dogs he and mom loved so much especially his Lukie.

Tommy is preceded in death by his parents, Edward Lee Sodders and Mauvis Fiadelia Sodders.  He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Darlyne VeLoise Sodders; his daughters, Danielle VeLoise Roberts and husband Joseph Michael Roberts, and Whitney Nicole Sodders and spouse Dana George; granddaughters, Morgan VeLoise Roberts, Cameryn Lea Roberts, Jillian Grace Roberts; siblings, William Edward Sodders, Janice Kay Malm and husband Dallas Malm; former sister-in-law, Judith May Krueger; nieces Sherry Lee Holbert, Jill Ann Ott, Kelly Lee Garita, Jennifer Lynn Ernster; 10 grand nieces and nephews.

Private celebration of life services will be held for Tommy on November 20, 2020 with public viewing November 19, 2020 from 5-8pm at the Champions Forest location of Klein Funeral Home.  Face coverings are required to enter the funeral home. Donations to In the Name of ZOEY – Animal Welfare and Advocacy Group are welcome.