Thomas Harmon Alms Sr.
Thomas Harmon Alms, Sr. of Mt. Vernon, formerly of Winter Haven, Florida passed away on Tuesday, January 20, 2009. He was born on November 8, 1931 in Orangefield, Texas, the son of C. A. and Mary Naomi (Flournoy) Alms. Tom received his Bachelors Degree from the University of Houston, his Masters Degree from the University of Texas at Austin, Texas and completed his PhD in Microbiology at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas in 1966. He went on to teach microbiology at the University of Missouri at Kansas City Dental School and later served as Chairman of the Department of Microbiology until his retirement. On September 10, 1954 he married Patricia Shelton in Houston, Texas. Tom attended the First United Methodist Church in Mt. Vernon. Those surviving him include his wife of 54 years, Patricia Alms of the home, one son, Thomas Harmon Alms, Jr. DDS and his wife, Laura, of Mt. Vernon; one daughter, Kathryn Lynne Jones and her husband, Hank, of Ft. Worth, Texas; four grandchildren, Matthew Alms, Michael Jones, Katie Alms and Melissa Jones. His parents, one brother, Charlie Alms and one sister Burner Deene Skains preceded him in death. A memorial service under the direction of the Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home will be held at 11:00 a.m., on Saturday, January 24, 2009 at the First United Methodist Church of Mt. Vernon. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the American Lung Association in care of the Fossett-Mosher Funeral Home at 510 E. Cherry St., Mt. Vernon, Missouri 65712. Online condolences may be shared at http://www.fossettmosherfuneralhome.com/.
