Dr. THOMAS ORVILLE MCKOWN May 31, 1940 – Feb. 8, 2024

Dr. Thomas Orville McKown, 83, despite never having smoked, succumbed to his nine year battle with non-small cell lung cancer and was called home Thursday February, 8 2024.

The eldest of four children, Tom was born May 31, 1940 to Ira and Francis (Schiesser) McKown. He grew up in Wichita Kansas with his mother and siblings; as his parents divorced when he was only 6 years old. 

He attained an undergraduate degree at Sterling College in Sterling, Kansas, his masters at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas and his Doctorate of Education at Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Oklahoma. He had three children with Doris Ford whom he married August 9, 1963; they later divorced. 

Over the years, he taught math at colleges in Kansas, Louisiana, Arizona and Georgia. He also worked for several years at the Los Alamos National Laboratory both before and after the cold war. He made numerous trips for LANL to the test site in Nevada, Washington, D.C., Geneva, England, and the Soviet Union during that time, as well as authoring and co-authoring several papers regarding CORRTEX.

He was a faithful church attendee wherever he was residing. He enjoyed traveling, sports (especially KU basketball), good food, and fine wine. He also loved classical music-especially piano, fine art, and lots of chocolate.

He is survived by his children and their spouses Doug (Laura), Debi (Geoffrey), and Brad (Marjorie), seven grandchildren, and one step grandchild, his sister Mary and brother Bill, several nieces, nephews, and cousins, and by his loving companion of many years, Ruth Riggin.

He was preceded in death by his parents and by his youngest sister Beth.

In lieu of flowers those desiring may contribute in memoriam to Sterling College.