Thomas F. Clendenin, Tom, was born in Springfield, Missouri on March 6, 1927. His father was an engineer and the family moved to Aruba Tom’s grade school years. He went to high school in North Carolina, active in all sports. He joined the army and served in the Korean War. He married, living in Maryland.

Tom later moved to California. He married my mother, Helen Howe in 1984. They cherished each other. They worked for an overseas American based textbook company. Helen and Tom were involved in sales and educational consulting. They set goals so the instructors could monitor the students’ progress. These travels brought them to tiny islands in the Pacific as well as Samoa, Tonga, the Marianas and Guam. Their territory included Japan, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia, Honk Kong and more.

In 1988 Tom and Helen bought a home on Whidbey Island and built a small office enabling them to come home often. They retired in 1996, devoting their time to landscaping and playing ball with their Golden Retriever. Tom loved to go into Freeland, read the paper, get a haircut and have breakfast. Tom was a warm and intelligent man and he liked people. He loved baseball and politics. Helen passed away on March 26, 2011. Tom’s health began to decline and he had fewer trips outside the home. People came to visit bringing him dinner and birthday cake. The hospice care and caregivers loved him. He was cheerful and full of humor. He was a good listener and very much interested in how the Parkinson’s disease affected his body and mind.

Tom is survived by 5 sons, 1 daughter and 2 step children. He was a remarkable man and the best friend and father a daughter could have.

A memorial service will be held in at 11:00 AM in Freeland Saturday, April 27 at St. Augustine’s in the Woods Episcopal Church. The burial will follow at 1:00 PM in Coupeville at Sunnyside Cemetery.