Thomas Stephen Salamon

Thomas “Tom” Salamon is with his Heavenly Father after passing away peacefully. Arrangements are in the care of Callaway-Jones Funeral Home in Bryan, Texas. A celebration of Tom’s life and strong faith will be held on June 14, 2025 at 11:00 am at the First Church of the Nazarene. Friends may visit with the family from prior to the service.

Tom was born to Stephen and Neoma King Salamon in Ravenna, Ohio. Sadly, his mother dies in childbirth and he was raised by his grandmother, Mary Belle King, until the age of 11 when his father married Mary Saxon and she became his loving and wonderful step-mother.

While in high school, Tom met the love of his life, Karen Deffenbaugh, whom he married on July 18, 1959. They were a couple strongly devoted to each other and their love of the Lord. During their 65 years together, they were blessed with three daughters, Valerie, Neoma, and Jody.

Professionally, Tom had a remarkable career with Norton Chemical Processing Company where he began as the plant janitor. Norton was eventually bought by the French chemical processing company of Saint-Gobain where through hard work and perseverance, he moved through the ranks until becoming the Director of Manufacturing which allowed him to travel internationally to such countries as China, England, and Germany. His career path took him and his family from Ohio to Tennessee and finally, Texas, where in 1976, he was responsible for the building and activation of the chemical processing plant still in operation in Bryan’s Industrial Park. Tom retired from Saint-Gobain in 1999.

Blessed with many talents, Tom was a gifted leader and teacher through which he touched an incredible number of people. He served as a leader for the youth group and the college classes at the First Church of God in Ravenna and maintained contact with many of his students even until his passing. He had a beautiful baritone voice and sang in the church choir and quarter groups. He continued his church activities throughout his moves and served as a Bible study leader and Sunday school teacher for adult classes at Bryan’s First Church of the Nazarene. Tom’s true gift was his unique ability to talk to anyone about any given topic!

Tom had a love of Nascar and enjoyed spending Sundays watching the races. He was an avid reader - his favorite authors being Tom Clancy and James Michener. He especially liked reading through the Bible followed by in-depth discussions about spiritual matters. Tom loved his farm - the peace, working with cattle, riding his tractors and 4-wheelers, and family cookouts over an open fire. But nowhere was his character better revealed than in his love, dedication and commitment to his family in which he leaves a legacy of faith, strength, integrity, and courage.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Stephen and Neoma Salamon and Mary Salamon.

Tom is survived by his wife, Karen; daughters, Valerie (Charles) Martin, Neoma (Kevin) Twining, and Jody (Brad) Stephen; grandchildren, Ryne (Heather) Sandel, Gary Sandel, Traci (Colton) Holloway, Olivia (Will) Church, Austin (Lexy) Stephen, and Sophia (Josh) DeLoach; and great-grandchildren, Caiden Sandel, Ava Sandel, Dylan Sandel, Harper Sandel, Avery Sandel, Korey Holloway, Hadley DeLoach, and Shepherd Stephen (due Sept. 2025).

In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions may be made to the First Church of the Nazarene in Bryan, Texas.