November 14, 1937 - November 14, 2016

Loving husband, father and grandfather; man of quiet faith

Loving husband, father and grandfather; man of quiet faith; respected and dedicated engineer 

Thomas (Tom) Lee Jones, age 79, of Mill Creek, Washington, passed away peacefully from heart failure in his home surrounded by his loving family on November 14, 2016. 

Tom was born in Culver City, CA. and spent his early years through college in Burbank, CA. As a child living down the street from a camouflaged Lockheed Aerospace during WWII, he recalled often eating meals with and interacting with the soldiers living there. This experience, along with watching the many military aircraft flying over his home, played an early role in Tom's later decision to become an Aerospace Engineer. As a young boy, Tom also loved sports, playing marbles and riding bikes with his friends in vacant dirt lots near his home. 

In 1948, at the age of 11, Tom contracted Polio during a local outbreak. Following surgery to stabilize his back muscles at age 14, Tom was able to rejoin his classmates and graduated from Burbank Senior High School in 1955. He continued on to Valley Junior College, worked as a draftsman at Lockheed for a couple years, and in 1964 graduated from UCLA with a B.S. in Engineering. 

Tom worked with great integrity for nearly 40 years in the aerospace industry, reaching the level of Technical Fellow at the Boeing Company. Having contributed to aircraft design analyses for the Boeing 747, 767, 777, B-2 Bomber and F-22 Raptor military jet, Tom was known for his professionalism, technical skills, and personal integrity. He took his job responsibilities as a structural engineer extremely serious, always aware that his decisions directly affected the safety of numerous airline passengers and military pilots.  

Tom was a man of quiet faith who's life scripture was John 11:25-26: "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die". He loved history, was an avid reader and a music lover of all genres. He and his wife enjoyed many summer vacations in Sunriver, OR. with their two daughters and their families, which provided many special memories for all. 

Tom is survived by his wife of 50 years, Sharon, and his two daughters, Stephanie Guddal and Leslie Hamlow, as well as five grandchildren - Christian and Hunter Guddal; Garrett, Grace and Grant Hamlow. 

FUNERAL INFORMATION

A private Celebration of Life will be held in December for family and friends.