Dr. Thomas C Stilwell

On June 9, 2020, Dr. Thomas C Stilwell, loving husband and father to three children, passed away at the age of 79.  Tom was born April 11, 1941 in Piqua, Ohio to the late couple of William and Wilma Stilwell.  Tom served in the U.S Army during the Vietnam War and finished his Doctorate at Ohio State University. His passion for adventure and pursuit to help countries advance their understanding in agricultural studies brought him to Bolivia where he married Norma Duran on June 1, 1980. Together they raised three children.

Dr. Stilwell was devoted to helping countries develop their agricultural studies.  His professional experiences included work in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the United States.  He was dedicated to the training, teaching and coordination of national scientists and expatriates.

In Mexico he worked as an instructor in a practical, field-oriented training program.  In Bolivia he was involved on-the-job training plus formal courses and presentations to farmers and researchers. While in Cameroon, he supervised in-country practical training courses and 16 national researchers in graduate training programs.  In Ecuador, he trained extension agents and prepared farmer level publications.  He also taught various microcomputer application courses in the United States, Asia, Africa, and Latin America.  Dr. Stilwell eventually became an agriculture professor at Wilmington College.  During his 18 years at Wilmington College, co-authored a textbook on world food production, and started the largest living plant museum in the United States.  Dr. Stilwell retired in 2019. He was an active member of the Martinsville Lions Club and Quaker Bolivia Link. He enjoyed woodworking, reading and teaching.

Throughout his life, Dr. Stilwell had an unwavering devotion to the care of his family, work and community.  Possessed with a strong work ethic, keen intellect and compassionate purposeful commitment to service and sharp wit, Tom served as a loving and devoted role model to us all.  He will be missed. In addition to his wife, Dr. Stilwell is survived by a son, Tomas (Kathy) Stilwell of Cincinnati, Ohio; two daughters, Gabriela (Hung Nguyen) Stilwell of Miamisburg, Ohio and Carolyn (Robert Anderson) Stilwell of Chelsea, Michigan; a brother, Douglas (Marj) Stilwell of Piqua, Ohio; a sister, Marilyn (Galen) Ketrow of Piqua, Ohio; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends from 10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon, Friday, June 12, 2020 at the Reynolds-Smith Funeral Home, 327 N. South Street, Wilmington, Ohio.  Social distancing guidelines will be followed, and the family has kindly asked that those in attendance wear a facemask.  The funeral service, which will be live streamed on the funeral home’s website, will begin at 12:00 Noon, Friday.  Burial will be in Sugar Grove Cemetery, Wilmington, Ohio.

In lieu of flowers, Wilmington College has established a fund for donations made in memory of beloved professor Dr. Thomas Stillwell.  To honor Tom’s passions, the fund will provide for international travel opportunities for students studying agriculture.  Interested individuals can make a gift online at www.wilmington.edu/give or by sending a check to Wilmington College c/o the Advancement Office, 1870 Quaker Way, Wilmington, OH 45177.

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