Timothy A. “Tim” Hatch passed away on April 16, 2025, at his home of 65 years in Lubbock,Texas.
Celebration of Life services took place at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, at the Lubbock First United Methodist Church with Rev. Todd Salzwadel officiating. The family received friends at a visitation held from 5-6:30 p.m. Monday, April 21, 2025, at Resthaven Funeral Home in Lubbock.
Born in Eldorado, Okla. on May 2, 1929, to Frank A. “F.A.” and Theresa “Ressa” Welch Wood Hatch, he moved to Wellington, Texas, in 1940, where his father opened a dry goods store.
There, he met the love of his life,Tommie Ann Campbell Hatch, both 13 years old at the time. A gifted athlete and excelled in sports, Tim played football for the Wellington High School Skyrockets, where his team won district in 1944, 1945 and 1946. While Tommie served as a Majorette, Tim had the hours to graduate on time in 1946. But the head coach asked him to delay graduation to play one more season of football. Dating Tommie, a year younger,likely influenced this decision as he obliged.
Tim andTommie attended Texas Technological College in Lubbock, where Tim had a football scholarship from 1947-1950. He helped Tech advance to Border Conference championships in 1947, 1948 and 1949 as tailback and kicker. He was inducted into the Texas Tech Athletics Hall of Fame in 1987 and recently “flipped the coin”before kickoff as the oldest living football letterman in 2024.
As junior high, high school and college sweethearts, Tim and Tommie were engaged on campus in 1949 and married in Wellington on June 25, 1950. They were married for 73 years before she preceded him in death in 2024.
Tim’s first job, after graduating at Tech in 1951, was at Hemphill Wells for two years. In 1953, he established Overhead Door Company of Lubbock, which he operated with an amazing team until selling it to his son, Alan, in 1985.
Tim and Tommie started every day reading their devotionals together. God and family were their priorities, and they lived that example well. They were active in First United Methodist Church Lubbock from 1951 until their deaths. There, Tim served as Chair of the Board and Lay Leader.
Always befriending and encouraging the pastors, Tim often invited them for dinner and on hunting and fishing trips. He visited hospitalized church members every week for many years. A wonderful and faithful friend, Tim attended and organized regular outings of lunch,golf,hunting and feeding cattle for many years. He faithfully supported and visited his friends as they aged, maintaining true, loyal friendships.
Tim also served as Chair of the Lubbock Chamber of Commerce, Chair of the Methodist Hospital Board and President of the Red Raider Club. He also chaired the boards at First National Bank, Norwest Bank Lubbock and Wells Fargo Bank Lubbock.
Tim’s love of sports led him to officiate football, where he became back judge in the Southwest Conference for 18 years. He earned invitations to officiate the Cotton, Sugar, Orange, Fiesta, Bluebonnet and Independence Bowls.
He loved everything outdoors: golfing, water skiing at Possum Kingdom, snow skiing, hunting and walking the neighborhood for over 40 years to stay in shape. He also cared for the yard atTommie’s direction. He loved and made time for each of his three sons, supporting them in all their endeavors. “Papa” spent many hours at his ranch with his grandchildren and attended every sporting event, ballet performance, piano recital and choir concert. Together, Tim and Tommie never missed an event and said their grandchildren served as their social life.
Tim was preceded in death by his wife, Tommie Ann; parents F.A. and Ressa Hatch; a brother, Frank Hatch and wife Dorothy, a sister, Dorothy Gribble and husband Fred; a brother, Bill Hatch and wife Zelda; a nephew,Bryan (Terri) Hatch; and a son, Mike Hatch and his first wife, Marti.
Tim is survived by two sons and their wives, Alan (Jennie) Hatch, Les (Mindy) Hatch and Mike’s wife, Sharon Seidl Hatch; brother-in-law Tim “Buck” Campbell; grandchildren Suzanne (Dan) Biase, Timothy (Allison) Hatch, Campbell (Elyse) Hatch, Clif (Mariana) Hatch, Martin (Natalie) Hatch, Travis (Lindsey) Hatch, Tom Hatch, James Hatch, Hayden Hatch, Bonnie (Cody) Caldwell, Vincent Seidl and Christian Seidl; his great-grandchildren, June, Tommie Ann “Annie,” Rose, Pearl, Minnie and Dolly Biase, Mac, Mia and Madeline Hatch, Lucy, Billy and Houston Hatch, Layla, Bo and Weston Hatch, Owen, Hollis and Crosby Hatch, and Arthur Caldwell; his nephews Dan (Linda) Hatch, Carlos (Bryan) Hatch and Scott (Tricia) Campbell; and his nieces, Carol Sue (Gene) Paulsgrove, Stacey (Greg) Carley and Kristi (Michael) Fuqua.
The family thanks all the caregivers for making it possible for Tim to stay at home, especially Carmen and Robert.
The family asks that donations be made to the First United Methodist Church, 1411 Broadway St.,Lubbock, TX 79401.
