Thomas Pullman

Thomas Edison (Eddie) Pullman was lifted by God's angels to meet our heavenly LORD and Savior Jesus Christ on December 19, 2021. Eddie passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at home. Eddie was a saved Christian who loved the LORD and his family. He was an American patriot, a great husband and father, and a civic leader who was a tireless and relentless volunteer. Eddie found great joy in helping others and his compassion and love for people was one of his greatest gifts. Our family continues to learn more about how much Eddie mentored and influenced others both personally and professionally.

Eddie was the firstborn child of Thomas Edison Pullman, Sr (Eddie) and Irene Marie Wagner Pullman on September 5, 1933. Eddie was born and grew up in San Angelo, Texas. He graduated from San Angelo High School in 1952 where he served as class president and was elected class favorite.

After graduating from San Angelo High School, he attended the University of Texas in Austin, Texas where he pledged Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity in 1953. Eddie volunteered and enlisted in the United States Army after his first year of college to serve his country during the Korean War and was stationed in Germany. He was honorably discharged and returned to the United States after two years of service. Eddie began his career in the finance industry and quickly became a supervisor for the Southwestern Investment Company which led him to Alamogordo, New Mexico. Eddie met the love of his life, Phyllis Jean Lee, whom he married in 1959. The love, affection, and respect that the couple shared together was truly a lifelong unity with God. They moved to their first married home in Santa Fe, New Mexico and then to Amarillo, Texas where their firstborn child Lance Lee Pullman was born. The family then moved to Weslaco, Texas for a work promotion and their only daughter, Rhonda Jean Pullman, was born in 1965. The family moved in 1967 to Las Cruces, New Mexico where Eddie was hired as an officer at Farmers and Merchants Bank. Another work opportunity then took the Pullman's to Clovis, New Mexico where he worked at the First National Bank as vice president. Third child Thomas Terron Pullman was born in 1972 in Clovis and the family then moved to Farmington, New Mexico for two years where he served as a vice president for Farmington National Bank. Farmington was a nice town but Eddie loved the people of Clovis and its proximity to Texas and its western culture. Eddie then organized, sold stock and chartered Western Bank of Clovis which opened in July 1975. Western Bank of Clovis was the first newly chartered commercial bank in over fifty years in Clovis and several other banks in town protested and opposed the regulatory approval for this new bank; however, Eddie continued his pursuit for a new community bank and his relentless efforts and work persevered once again. Eddie served as the president and chief executive officer of Western Bank of Clovis until 1992 when he began his second career at the age of sixty one and opened Pullman Insurance Agency until his recent retirement.

Eddie served and led, as either president or chairman,numerous local and state civic organizations including the Clovis Noon Day Kiwanis Club, the Sertoma Club, Clovis Chamber of Commerce, the United Way, Committee of Fifty, the New Mexico Amigo's, ENMRSH, Clovis Hospital Board, Clovis School Board and was on the vestry of Saint James Episcopal Church where he and Jean are members. Eddie's hobbies included spending time with his close family, hunting, fishing and reading newspapers. The Pullman home was always a favorite place for their children to gather as Eddie loved to listen, tell stories, joke, have a beer on the patio and to slow cook barbecue chicken as he was taught by his father.

Eddie was preceded in death by his parents, Eddie and Irene Pullman and his younger brother, J. Wayne Pullman. He is survived by his wife of sixty-two years Jean Pullman, children Lance Lee Pullman and Rhonda Jean Pullman who both reside in Frisco, Texas, son Thomas Terron Pullman (wife Cheryl) of Clovis, nephew Michael Pullman of Las Vegas, Nevada and Michelle Pullman of Burbank, California.

Honorary pallbearers will be Al McNamara, Michael T. Garrett, Buzz Mills, Robert "Bo" Linn, Bill Kinyon, Larry Erwin, Matt Matlock, Scott Hulder, Harlan Vincent, Robert Edwards, Howard Edwards, and Aaron Pettigrew. Cremation has taken place under the direction of Steed-Todd Crematory as were his wishes.

A memorial service will be held at Kingswood United Methodist Church in Clovis on January 4, 2022 at 2:00 pm. Father Edson Way will officiate the services.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Kindred Hospice Care in Clovis or any other charity of the donor's choice.