Willie Overstreet

Willie Leon (W.L., “Tom”) Overstreet went home to be with his Lord early Sunday morning, November 8, 2015 at St. Catherine’s Center in Waco, TX. He was 84 years old.
Born at home on July 9, 1931 in Billingsley, AL to Edgar E. and Dossie (Vinson) Overstreet, Tommy, as he was known throughout his childhood and early adult years, was the fourth of five siblings and the youngest of the three boys. Tommy’s father died when he was seven years old. Tommy and his siblings grew up in a poor, cotton farming community where he spent most of his childhood running barefoot through the backwoods of the Alabama countryside, fishing and hunting squirrels.
Tommy left home at the age of 16 and joined the military, where he enlisted for two, 3 year terms with the U.S. Air Force. During his service, he was in top secret and was stationed in various places including Japan and England. He was honorably discharged in 1954 with the rank of Staff Sargent.
Shortly after his discharge, Tommy’s job led him to Marble Falls, TX. Needing a place to stay, he inquired with a family there that had a couple of rental cabins. As he arrived to inquire, Tommy was greeted by the owner’s 18 year old daughter, Ellen Jackson. Seventeen days later, Tommy proposed and seven months later they were married on April 17, 1955. Together they raised three sons and a daughter.
Tom worked in various occupations over the years, ranging from police officer to truck driver to oil field construction to carpenter to car salesman. He could be considered a jack of all trades, but his occupational fulfillment came when he opened his own company, Overstreet’s Used Truck Tires or The OUTT House. This company grew and flourished for a number of years until he retired and sold the company in 1995. One of his greatest joys during this time was the opportunity to work side by side with his oldest son, Allan.
Through the years, Tom and Ellen lived in many, many places: from Dallas to Houston to Odessa and Alabama to Utah to Phoenix, AZ and many places in between. Sometimes the moves were made because that’s where the jobs were, but many times the moves were ….well, just because.
Wherever they lived, Tom never left the place the same, whether it was knocking out walls, adding new rooms, digging a swimming pool, installing cabinets or building fences and barns. The people that he met were also never left the same.
One of Tom’s trademarks was his signature. Rarely did he sign his name, but instead used the abbreviation of O’st. He will also be remembered for his jokes and many stories that he loved to tell.
Tom became a Christian at a very young age and he returned to that faith beginning in the mid 1960’s when Tom and his family became active in a Baptist church wherever they lived. In the early 1970’s, Tom was ordained as a deacon. Through the years, he also served as a Sunday school teacher, committee member and loved to sing in the choir.
Tom was an avid sports fan, especially of the Astros, Rangers, and the former Houston Oilers.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Edgar and Dossie Overstreet, one brother, J.W. Overstreet and two sisters, Louise Roberts and Frances Williams.
Tom was survived by his wife of 60 years, Ellen Overstreet of Hewitt, TX; brother, Jack and wife, Ramona of Hewitt, TX; three sons: Allan and wife, Norma of China Spring, TX; Larry and wife, Marla of Hewitt, TX; Martin and wife, Sheryl of Reno, NV; and daughter, Gwen McKay and husband, Lynn of Houston, TX; twelve grandchildren and their spouses, and eleven great-grandchildren, in addition to many nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
A celebration of life service will be held at 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, November 11, at Pecan Grove Funeral Home, 3124 Robinson Drive, Waco. Burial will follow at Waco Memorial Park. The family will receive visitors 6-8:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 10, at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Tom’s name to your local food bank or shelter, or a favorite charity.