Thomas Franklin Veatch, aged 76, a lifelong resident of Trenton, MO, unexpectedly passed into the arms of Jesus on April 9, 2024. He was enjoying a beautiful day with his wife of 54 years, Kathy.
Tom was born in Trenton on June 12, 1947, to Ferrol and Lois Jean (Cooper) Veatch. He graduated from Trenton High School in 1965 and attended Bob Jones University and Calvary Bible College. After college, he returned home to his roots: his love of the land. He married Kathy on March 15, 1970. Tom was a passionate farmer and spent many years crop farming and dairy farming with his family. Tom had a great love for Jesus and music. This led to him leading worship in many churches, revivals, and singing groups that traveled all over the Midwest singing the gospel. Several of these groups included The God Squad, Living Water, and The Veatchs. He was an integral part of his community, working tirelessly to bring countless Southern Gospel groups to the area. Tom enjoyed helping others and worked hard to provide sound equipment for many area churches. He loved assisting the R-6 school with their music programs as well. His latest passion was his radio show on KTTN, The Southern Gospel Jubilee. Tom never met a stranger; he loved to visit with anyone and always had a kind word, a laugh, or a smile to share. He loved the Lord and was eager to share that love with anyone he met.
Tom is survived by his loving wife of 54 years, Katherine (Kathy) (Lambeth) Veatch, his children Tammy Smith-Hinchey (Patrick), Scott Veatch (Sarah), Laurie Bonta (Maurice), Sara Keck (Josh), and his grandchildren Olivia and Maiya Smith, Jacolbi Wheeler (Jesse), Mekayla McFarland, Seth Veatch (Julian Hughes), Sadie and Jonathan Veatch, Emily, Maurissa, and Isaac Bonta, Allison, Jackson, Nathan Keck, and Dana Whitt. Two great-grandchildren, Scarlette Wheeler and Sebastian McFarland, one sister, Rebecca Layton (Randy), his nephew and niece, James Lane and Becky Smith (Patrick), his mother-in-law, Nancy Lambeth, brothers- and sisters-in-law, many nieces, nephews, cousins, and beloved friends.
Funeral services will be held Friday, April 12, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at Rural Dale Baptist Church east of Trenton, Missouri. Burial will be in Resthaven Memorial Gardens north of Trenton, Missouri.
Family visitation will be held Thursday from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Resthaven Mortuary, Trenton, Missouri.
Memorials to Good News Outreach Ministries may be left with the mortuary.
