Connie:
Tom
read your web page every morning to see what old friends had passed.
He was
a class of 1943
He
also passed on Feb. 3. See below what was put in our local paper.
We
moved to the Northwest in 1991 and have enjoyed many years.
Feel
free to edit any of it to fit your blog.
Thanks
Pat
Stowe, FJC 1947
Thomas Campbell Stowe
Tom Stowe, 88, passed away on February 3, 2015 after
two recent battles with cancer.
Tom was born on February 8, 1926 in Parkersburg, West
Virginia the only child of Cecil and Hazel Stowe. He spent his early
childhood in Williamstown, West Virginia and Marietta, Ohio, small towns on
opposite sides of the Ohio River. In 1937 the family took a trip west to
California where they were involved in a terrible car crash and had to spend
months recuperating. The result was the small family relocated to
Fullerton, California where Tom graduated from Fullerton Union High School in
1943. These being the war years, he enlisted in the Navy while a senior in high
school. The Navy allowed him to graduate from high school and sent him to the
V-12 program at the University of California, Berkeley, where he studied
Mechanical Engineering for a year and a half. He was then sent to Chicago to
train as a radar technician and to Monterey, CA for additional studies, and
then shipped out on the carrier USS Ticonderoga for tours in the South Pacific.
He was on the ship awaiting the invasion of Japan when the war ended. The
ship then was refitted, made stops throughout the Pacific to bring troops home
to the west coast. Tom was discharged in May of 1946.
One day before his discharge from the Navy, Tom met
Patricia Ruth Wood, at a Methodist Youth Fellowship gathering held at her home.
They were married on August 15, 1947 and went on to finish their college
education at U.C.L.A. Tom graduated with a business degree in 1948, and pursued
graduate studies at UCLA’s Anderson School of Business while “Patty” finished
her degree a year later. Later, Tom studied law at Loyola University School of
Law in Los Angeles for two and a half years until responsibilities of a full
time job and full time family man (three children at the time) demanded he make
some choices. He chose to pursue growing career opportunities.
Tom worked ten years for the California Division of
Highways (now CalTrans), achieving the position of Senior Right of Way Agent in
charge of utilities, railroad and oil company appraisal and acquisition, Los
Angeles Office. During this time, he was part of the team that planned and
acquired much of the highly reputed transportation system in north Los Angeles
and San Luis Obispo counties that developed post WWII.
In 1960, after ten years at the State, and for the
remainder of his career, Tom was an independent appraiser, primarily in
condemnation and court related matters. He was qualified as an expert
witness in State and Federal courts in the states of California, Nevada and
Washington. He was a licensed real estate broker in California from 1959 to
1991. He held every appraisal designation except farm appraisal.
These include MAI, SRA and SREA from the American Institute of Real Estate
Appraisers; ASA designation from the American Society of Appraisers, and SR/WA
from the International Right of Way Association. The SREA designation (senior
real estate analyst) is one of less than 800 ever granted – the designation has
since been retired. Tom retired from practice in 1999 having served as an
active appraiser, analyst, expert witness, instructor and mentor to many
including his son who continues his legacy of appraisal and practices in
western Washington.
Tom and Pat moved to Anacortes in 1991, having
vacationed in the area for many years, to support daughter Julie who had taken
a teaching position in the Anacortes School District. He continued his
business practice and got involved in the local community. As a lifelong member
of Kiwanis, and active in a southern California chapter, it was only natural
that he joined The Kiwanis Club of Anacortes (noon group). He continued as an
active member (24 years), holding leadership positions in the club and the
Thrift Shop until health issues prevented in the last year. One of his
most meaningful contributions to the local community was his negotiation of the
cell tower leases on Kiwanis property at the top of Mt. Erie. Those contracts
bring back some $_____ annually to the club that is then put to use in local
parks and children’s programs.
Tom’s past-times included doing daily crossword
puzzles, the more challenging the better. He loved good
jokes, puns and brain teasers and researching real estate transactions. He was
an avid reader and a lifelong UCLA Bruin fan.
Tom leaves behind his loving wife of 67 years and his
five children, Victoria Stowe (Daniel Conrardy) of Anacortes, Julia Lee Boyce
(Val) of Anacortes, Thomas P. (Donna) of Beaux Arts Village, Theresa Jones
(Brian) of Spokane and Anna Marie Stowe (Rolf Gartwyl) of Cooma,
Australia. He is also survived by grandchildren: Tristan Boyce, Kimarie
Henning, Kaitlyn Boyce, Joe Boyce, Hayley Stowe, Graeme Stowe, Lauren Conrardy
and Juliann Conrardy.
Arrangements have been made by Evans Funeral Home, and
burial of ashes will occur in the future at the family plot in Devola,
Ohio. A Celebration of Tom’s life will be held on Monday, February 16 at
2 PM at the Seafarer’s Building in Anacortes. In lieu of flowers, the
family has asked that memorial donations may be made to the Thomas C. Stowe
Scholarship fund in care of the Kiwanis Club of Anacortes, 420 “O” Avenue,
Anacortes, WA 98221.
(714) 525-4721
