Thomas Campbell Stowe, FUHS 1943

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.