Thomas Longbotham

Thomas Lee “TL” Longbotham of Westfield, passed away on Friday, June 27, 2014, in his home, at the age of 82. TL was born in Janesville, WI on December 4, 1931 to Gilmore Thomas and Ruth Longbotham (née-Hadley). TL graduated from Ladysmith High School and Northland College, where he sang for 4 years in their traveling choir. He was drafted into the US Army and served in Germany. He married Dorothy Primus McCartney on November 4, 1964. He welcomed 5 step-children into his life and was later blessed with daughter Susan. TL’s teaching career took him to Shiocton, Amherst, and finally Westfield, where he taught for 24 years, raised his family, and lived out his retirement. He was a loving husband and father, a lifelong teacher of high school math and science, an animal lover, and an active member of the community. TL was Boy Scout Master for 13 years for the Twin Lakes Council. He enjoyed the annual week- long trip with the scouts to Gardner Dam Camp. He was an avid bowler and golfer, serving as secretary/treasurer for the Sunset Point Bowling Association and an outstanding statistician/scorebook keeper for the Westfield basketball and football teams for an impressive 51 years. He was loved by generations of students and their families, and they will all miss that ‘old guy’ in the stands. TL’s one true joy in life was spending time with his wife and family. He loved traveling the country with his wife Dorothy, whom he lost to cancer in January.

TL is survived by his Daughter, Susan and John Janik, Step-children, George and Suzanne McCartney, Thomas and Janet McCartney, William and Joan McCartney, Nancy and Mark Giese. Grandchildren, John and Karen McCartney, Tammy and Randy Winkelman, Sarah Grant, Michael and Kristen McCartney, Melissa and Jason Drum, Robert and Heather McCartney, Mark and Robyn McCartney, Julie and Ryan Drinkwater, Jenna Giese, Molly Giese, Jessica Allen, Tyler and Katie Allen.

TL is also survived by 16 great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by father Gilmore, mother Ruth, step-son Michael McCartney and wife Dorothy.

Of all the things he did for his family and friends, TL’s true legacy will be his sense of humor – he was cracking jokes until his last breath, and the memory of him laughing happily will live on in our hearts forever.

There will be an open house celebration of TL’s life at Thal Acres Golf Course in Westfield on Sunday, July 27th from 1-3pm.

Inurnment will be in Fairview Park Cemetery, DeKalb, IL at a later date.


Please take a moment to view the online guestbook. Send your condolences or share a memory of T.L. with his family & friends.