Sheilah Kotulski
Uncle Tom had a characteristic way of making you feel like you were the most important person in the room. Even when the room was filled with others who were individually addressed by Uncle Tom for an intentional conversation. His characteristic smile, twinkle in his eye and what at times sounded like a southern drawl, resembled that of his father and my grandfather, Tilmon O'Dell, and my Dad, Merlin O'Dell.
I remember my Uncle Tom would join us on summer vacations and separate extended visits to our home in Virginia. Tom was a fun uncle to have around however on occasion I remember my dad was not amused at what he was teaching my sister Bonnie and I.
Years later on one winter visit to Decatur, my sister Bonnie and I had a snowball fight with Uncle Tom that nearly did me in. I sat in the snow crying and he came over, helped me up, apologized and said "I thought you were more mature or tougher than that." And " I forgot what a girl you are!" Later he would occasionally tease me about that incident with a characteristic twinkle, smile and wink. And Uncle Tom would not have encouraged me to go out for sports after watching me flounder around on loose ice skates at the Fairview Park Ice Skating Rink, however I appreciated the fact that he wanted to take Bonnie and I out for a different fun activity.
Uncle Tom loved his family, nature and extending warm hospitality in the beautiful homes that he and Aunt Linda shared across the miles in Ohio (where his boys had quite a fun basement playground), Virginia (where his house was up on a wooded hill with beautiful tall pines), Pennsylvania (where there were many treasures and hand made quilts and other crafts that were displayed) and Illinois (where I will never forget the huge blazing fireplace and the beautiful red cardinals flying around on the snow covered hills). The family dinners that we shared were always delicious and filling, and the conversation was full of reminiscing and catching up on one another's lives.
We will all miss Uncle Tom, and I know that is especially true for my dad, Merlin. They would speak often on the phone and I know that Tom was my Dad's best friend. We are truly thankful that Uncle Tom joins the "Great Cloud of Witnesses" that include my grandmother, grandfather, his granddaughter and his sister (Madonna) whom he and many of the rest of our family never knew but always heard so much about. Give them all heavenly air hugs for us, Tom!
Love, Blessings and Prayers to Linda, Tom Jr.,Monica, Derrick, Patrick,
Sheilah (O'Dell) Kotulski
