Tom Coburn

official U.S. Senate photo of Tom Coburn c. 2011

Birth Name: Thomas Allen Coburn

Date of Birth: March 14, 1948

Place of Birth: Casper, Wyoming, U.S.

Date of Death: March 28, 2020

Place of Death: Tulsa, Oklahoma, U.S.

Ethnicity: English, German, distant Irish

Tom Coburn was an American politician and medical doctor/obstetrician. A Republican, he served as a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oklahoma, from January 3, 1995 to January 3, 2001, and a U.S. Senator from Oklahoma, from January 3, 2005 to January 3, 2015.

He was the son of Anita Joy (Allen) and Orin Wesley Coburn. His father was an optician, who founded Coburn Optical Industries, and was a named donor to O. W. Coburn School of Law at Oral Roberts University. Tom was married to Carolyn Denton, until his death, with whom he had three children, including operatic soprano Sarah Coburn. Carolyn was the 1967 Miss Oklahoma.

Tom’s paternal grandfather was Ira Orville Coburn (the son of John Hennen Coburn and Sarah Maragret “Sadie” Shreffler). Ira was born in Oklahoma. John was the son of Samuel John Coburn and Carlitha Jane Nelson. Sarah was the daughter of Edmund Shreffler and Mary Etta Saylor, who were of German descent.

Tom’s paternal grandmother was Dora Ethel Thornbaugh/Thornburgh (the daughter of Clarence E. Thornburgh and Effie Loretta Randall). Dora was born in Oklahoma. Clarence was the son of Wesley Thornburgh and Eliza Jane Choate.

Tom’s maternal grandfather was Charles Wintersmith Allen (the son of Jacob LaRue Allen and Josephine Vina Deavers/Dever). Charles was born in Oklahoma. Jacob was the son of John Jabez Allen and Catherine Frances Pemberton.

Tom’s maternal grandmother was named Myrtle L. Hyre. Myrtle was born in Oklahoma.

Sources: Genealogy of Tom Coburn – https://www.findagrave.com

Genealogy of Tom Coburn (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.geni.com

Genealogy of Tom Coburn (focusing on his mother’s side) – http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com

Genealogy of Tom’s mother (focusing on her father’s side) – http://www.kathichesnut.com