Chief Warrant Officer 4 (Retired) Thomas Leroy Stiger, 88, died from complications of a fall while visiting his daughter in New Jersey on March 26, 2024. A proud veteran of the Ohio Army National Guard, Tom served 44 years before retiring from the 414th Engineer Group in 1995.

Tom was born August 16, 1935, in Cleveland, Ohio to the late George and Violet (Felkey) Stiger. Upon graduation from Clyde High School, Clyde, Ohio, Tom joined the Ohio National Guard. He continued his education while serving in the Guard at the Terra Technical College in Ohio and several other U.S. Army Schools.

While serving in the Ohio Army National Guard, Tom received several awards and medals, culminating in the Legion of Merit awarded to him for his exceptional performance of duty to the United States Army on September 19, 1995.

Both long-time widowed, Tom met his second wife, Ruth Hornor, on a military transport plane enroute to an Ohio Army National Guard mission to build schools and hospitals for the mentally ill in Jamaica. It was a match made in heaven, leading to marriage, retirement, relocation to Oklahoma and the busy second chapter to a wonderful life.

Tom's commitment to service extended to the civilian community. In his early years, he served as a Little League coach in Clyde, Ohio. After his retirement, he and Ruth relocated to Lawton, Oklahoma, where he volunteered for many years to the Salvation Army and served on the Board of Directors of the Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club, was Treasurer of the Fort Sill Retiree's Committee, Past President and Director of the Pecan Valley Homeowners Association, Treasurer of the Boulevard of Lights in Lawton, and a member of the First Baptist Church, Lawton.

Tom was an avid golfer and bowler. He loved to travel. He and his wife Ruth were enthusiastic RVer's, journeying far and wide with friends and family. Tom has visited all 50 states, Germany, the Baltic Sea Countries, Columbia, South America, Central America, where he traveled through the Panama Canal, Mexico, Canada, Russia and many Caribbean Islands.

Tom is survived by his beloved wife, Ruth Hornor-Stiger; devoted daughters, Mary Irvine (Cal) of New Jersey and Susan Malena of Altus, Oklahoma; grandchildren, Jacob Stiger (Mandy), Thomas Malena (Gianna), Rachel Lake, Amber Redondo (Matthew), Heath Irvine (Anne Ferrell), Tommy Stiger, Jenny Stiger, and Tanya Stiger and 10 great-grandchildren. He will be sorely missed by his many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his first wife, Hazel; son, Robert Stiger; brothers, Harold, Don, George, Jr, William, Jack and sisters, Mary Brutcher and Marge Rebeck.

The family will greet friends on Thursday, April 4, 2024 from 6pm – 8pm, at Becker-Rabon Funeral Home.

Funeral Service will be held Friday, April 5, 2024, 11:30am at Becker-Rabon Funeral Home Chapel.

Burial with full military honors will follow at Fort Sill National Cemetery, Elgin, Oklahoma.

The service may be viewed by following the livestream link a www.beckerfuneral.com or by visiting the Becker-Rabon Funeral Home Facebook page.

Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 6704, Hagerstown, Maryland 21741 or the Alzheimer's Association, 225 N. Michigan Ave, Floor 17, Chicago, Illinois 60601.