Tom Proctor

Tom Proctor, 74, passed away on November 13, 2017, at his home in Waco. The funeral service at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home will be held at 10:00 a.m., on Saturday, November 18. Rev. David Story will officiate. Burial will follow at Oakwood Cemetery. Visitation will be 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Friday, November 17, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home. Tom was born and raised in Des Moines, Iowa. He attended Dowling Catholic High School. He trained in the Catholic seminary at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, where he earned his bachelor’s degree, but ultimately decided not to pursue a career as a priest. He served as a student chaplain at a hospital in Kansas and then at the Kansas Neurological Institute. He then taught math to adolescents at Topeka State Hospital while earning his master’s in special education and doctorate in educational psychology from the University of Kansas. His first and only job after earning his doctorate was at Baylor University, where he worked for 30 years training teachers to work with children with special needs. He trained his students at the Baylor Learning Lab, and later at Hillcrest Professional Development school, where his wife, Marlene, also worked. Tom most aspired to be non-judgmental in his approach to others and taught his students to be mindful that “everyone’s doing the best they can to feel good about themselves.” Tom enjoyed fishing, spending time on their houseboat, grilling, reading, watching football (especially Baylor), and spending time with his children, grandchildren, and friends. Most of all he loved spending time with the love of his life, Marlene, from whom he was rarely apart during their 47 years of marriage. Tom’s father, James V., and mother, Mary, preceded him in death. He is survived by his brother, James C.; wife, Marlene; son, Tim and wife, Lara; son, Tony and wife, Ashley; and five grandchildren, Ethan, Adam, River, Dylan, and Sawyer. Special thanks to Dr. Gary Barbin, Hospice caretakers Jake Flores and Jessica Jones, and Visiting Angels’ Shana Scott and Ursula Brooks for the care they provided Tom. In lieu of flowers please make donations to Caritas of Waco. The family invites you to leave a message or memory on our “Tribute Wall” at www.WHBfamily.com.