Thomas "Tom" Edward Billions

Thomas Edward Billions (“Tom”) of Kingston Springs, Tennessee, and formerly of Ashland, Kentucky, passed away at The Lodge at Natchez Trace in Nashville, Tennessee on Thursday, August 28, 2025. He was 92 years old, and just weeks away from celebrating his 93rd birthday.

Mr. Billions was the eldest of two sons born in rural Limestone County, Alabama, to Mattie and Cleo Billions. He served as a Corporal in the U.S. Army and was deployed to fight in combat during the Korean War. He and his wife, Gail, raised 5 children, while moving across the southeast for his career with Payless Oil, Inc., and then later Ashland Oil, Inc. After retiring from Ashland Oil, he and Gail relocated from Ashland, Kentucky, to the middle Tennessee area.

Mr. Billions enjoyed many hobbies and interests in retirement, but he especially enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, his gardening, University of Alabama football, University of Kentucky basketball, NASCAR, politics, his collection of antique salt and pepper shakers, his bourbon collection, attending car shows, hearty breakfasts, and his love of grocery shopping each week at Walmart. He also enjoyed story-telling to his family, and thanking people often by invoking his last name along with a sweet message of, “Thanks a Billion!” He remained proudly independent and mobile in his later years despite his diminished vision and hearing, and started using a wheelchair only a few weeks before his death. Mr. Billions loved America, and he often thanked God for letting him live long enough to see the re-election of President Donald J. Trump.

Mr. Billions was preceded in death by his wife, Gail, his daughter, Kathy Billions Hackworth, his son, Kevin Billions, and his daughter-in-law, Connie Billions. He is survived by his brother Dwight Billions (Beverly) of Athens, Alabama; his daughter Karen Kloess (Larry) of Kingston Springs, Tennessee; his daughter Shelly Spradlin (David) of Hurricane, West Virginia; his son Mark Billions of Spring Hill, Tennessee; his daughter-in-law Dava Billions of Ashland, Kentucky, and his son-in-law Daryl Hackworth of Ft. Wayne, Indiana. He is also survived by 10 grandchildren, Larry Kloess IV (Haleigh) of Nashville, Tennessee; Rachel Taslimi (Ray) of Kingston Springs, Tennessee; Ellie Blair (Rob) of Prosper, Texas; Mark Billions Jr. of Spring Hill, Tennessee; Lydia Alcarez (James) of Lexington, Kentucky; Nikki Cline (Kenny) of Hurricane, West Virginia; Mattie Johnson (Thomas) of Ashland, Kentucky; Charlee Billions of Ashland, Kentucky; Ben Hackworth (Morgan) of Ft. Wayne, Indiana; and Ryan Hackworth of Atlanta, Georgia; along with 16 great grandchildren, and 1 great great grandchild.

Donations may be made to:

Alive Hospice

1718 Patterson Street

Nashville TN 37203

Funeral services are pending.