Thomas Newton Schriver, 89, of Springfield, Mo., passed away peacefully on April 8, 2026.
Thomas Newton Schriver was born Jan. 30, 1937, to Frances and Harry “Newt” Schriver in Uniontown, Pa. He graduated from Connellsville High School in Connellsville, Pa., in 1954. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy in 1954 and received an honorable discharge in 1957 at the end of his enlistment. He attended Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pa., beginning in 1958 and received his bachelor’s degree in business administration in January of 1962.
With his bride, Ruth, at his side, he worked for Liberty Mutual Insurance from January 1962 to August 1965 in Buffalo, N.Y.; Van Nuys, Calif.; and Riverside, Calif. In August of 1965, he received a commission as a special agent with the United States Secret Service. He was assigned to the Los Angeles field office from 1965 to 1967; the Protective Intelligence Division in Washington, D.C., from 1967 to 1969; the Columbus, Ohio, field office from 1969 to 1974; the Headquarters Liaison Division in Washington, D.C., from 1974 to 1977; and then to Springfield as resident agent, covering 30 counties in southwest Missouri until his retirement in 1991.
In his 26-year career as a special agent, he helped protect former President Eisenhower as well as Presidents Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, and George H. W. Bush. He also helped protect Vice Presidents Humphrey, Agnew, Ford, Mondale, and George H. W. Bush, as well as numerous heads of state, including the Queen of England, the pope, the prime minister of Ireland, the prime minister of England, and the first delegation from China to the United States. He was also assigned to Dr. Henry Kissinger during his time as national security advisor.
His travels included London, England; Paris, France; Brussels, Belgium; Bonn and Berlin, Germany; Athens, Greece; Tel Aviv, Israel; Saigon, Vietnam; Bangkok, Thailand; Costa Rica; Port-au-Prince, Haiti; Port of Spain, Trinidad; Managua, Nicaragua; Guam; and all 50 states except Vermont.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 50 years, Ruth Schriver; his brothers, Louis Schriver of Pittsburgh, Pa., and Richard Schriver of Las Cruces, N.M. He is survived by his son, Michael; daughter-in-law, Carol Eggerman Schriver of Nixa; grandsons Samuel Schriver of Albuquerque, N.M., and Nick Schriver of Springfield; and his daughter, Kristina Schriver Whalen; son-in-law, Shawn Whalen; granddaughter, Walker Whalen; and grandson, Finnigan Whalen, all of San Francisco, Calif.
He was a member of Wesley United Methodist Church; American Legion Post 434; Elks Lodge 409; the Association of Former Agents of the U.S. Secret Service; the Missouri Peace Officers Association; and the Missouri Sheriffs’ Association.
A Funeral Service will be held 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at Adams Funeral Home, Nixa. A Committal Service with military honors will be held 1:00 p.m. following the funeral service at Missouri Veterans Cemetery, Springfield. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Ozarks Food Harvest in Springfield.
