Obituary as published in the Houston Chronicle on December 28th, 2012.
Thomas Joseph Walden Sr., known as "T" by his grandsons, passed away suddenly on Tuesday, December 25, 2012, after a brief illness. Tom was a native Houstonian and a graduate of Texas A&M University. After graduating in 1971, he returned to Houston to begin a career in banking and later in the insurance industry. He was one of the founders of Insurance Alliance, where he served as Senior Vice President. He was active in numerous insurance advisory councils, boards of directors and committees. Tom had a passion for history, specifically, World War I/II aviation and was a collector of rare aviation memorabilia, Texas history, and other military campaigns. He was an avid cyclist and runner, qualifying and completing the Boston Marathon twice. He spent many years teaching Sunday school and mentoring young people in their faith. Most of all, he was passionate about his children and his three precious grandsons. After Tom's daughter and son-in-law moved to Washington, D.C., he began planning "T's Tours" around the D.C. museums and historical sites for his grandsons. Tom was born on August 27, 1948 to Tom and Melba Walden in Houston, Texas. His parents preceded him in death. He is survived by his beloved children, Emily Walden Pedersen and husband, Luke, Thomas Joseph Walden Jr., and their mother Donna Rudd Walden; grandchildren Asher Kristian, Connor Luke, and Blake Thomas Pedersen; cousin Judy Walden Stipp and husband Louis; other family members and many good friends. A memorial service will be held Saturday, December 29, 2012, 10:00 a.m. at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Wounded Warrior Project or St. Andrews Presbyterian Church.
Tommy & I go way back to the 5th grade at Garden Oaks Elementary, through Black & Waltrip. We were good friends through school, but as things may have it, went our on ways. We saw each other, time to time, maybe on the tennis court or class reunions, exchange phone numbers & would never get together. Tommy had always been someone special to me, that I could talk to. I respected his opinion because of his Honesty, Leadership, out stand ingest, & him just being a really great person. There aren’t words to say how much we’ll miss Tommy, but we have the wonderful memories of times & laughter with him. He may be with Christ, but he can still be with us in our thoughts.
I met Tommy at Waltrip and did not know him prior to that time. I knew after I met him that everyone liked him and he was respected because he was so friendly and outgoing. I was really shy and reserved. We knew each other only in "passing". When I went off to Texas A&M I didn't even know that Tommy had also chosen to attend there.
One day right at the start of the first semester I was sitting in Freshman Chemistry lecture which was a huge classroom of about 300 students. I was looking over the class and noticed Tommy sitting down if front of me. I stepped our of my comfort zone and went down and started talking to him and automatically bonded with him because we were Waltrip grads and had that in common. We had a great time all during that semester and I looked forward to going to class. We always talked about getting together after class but never did. After reading his Obituary I really wish we had gotten together. I knew Tommy for a very short time but I will always remember our time together in Chemistry class.
Pat Clooney (King)
Obituary as published in the Houston Chronicle on December 28th, 2012.
Thomas Joseph Walden Sr., known as "T" by his grandsons, passed away suddenly on Tuesday, December 25, 2012, after a brief illness. Tom was a native Houstonian and a graduate of Texas A&M University. After graduating in 1971, he returned to Houston to begin a career in banking and later in the insurance industry. He was one of the founders of Insurance Alliance, where he served as Senior Vice President. He was active in numerous insurance advisory councils, boards of directors and committees. Tom had a passion for history, specifically, World War I/II aviation and was a collector of rare aviation memorabilia, Texas history, and other military campaigns. He was an avid cyclist and runner, qualifying and completing the Boston Marathon twice. He spent many years teaching Sunday school and mentoring young people in their faith. Most of all, he was passionate about his children and his three precious grandsons. After Tom's daughter and son-in-law moved to Washington, D.C., he began planning "T's Tours" around the D.C. museums and historical sites for his grandsons. Tom was born on August 27, 1948 to Tom and Melba Walden in Houston, Texas. His parents preceded him in death. He is survived by his beloved children, Emily Walden Pedersen and husband, Luke, Thomas Joseph Walden Jr., and their mother Donna Rudd Walden; grandchildren Asher Kristian, Connor Luke, and Blake Thomas Pedersen; cousin Judy Walden Stipp and husband Louis; other family members and many good friends. A memorial service will be held Saturday, December 29, 2012, 10:00 a.m. at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Wounded Warrior Project or St. Andrews Presbyterian Church.
Larry Puls
Tommy & I go way back to the 5th grade at Garden Oaks Elementary, through Black & Waltrip. We were good friends through school, but as things may have it, went our on ways. We saw each other, time to time, maybe on the tennis court or class reunions, exchange phone numbers & would never get together. Tommy had always been someone special to me, that I could talk to. I respected his opinion because of his Honesty, Leadership, out stand ingest, & him just being a really great person. There aren’t words to say how much we’ll miss Tommy, but we have the wonderful memories of times & laughter with him. He may be with Christ, but he can still be with us in our thoughts.
Ted Carapezza
I met Tommy at Waltrip and did not know him prior to that time. I knew after I met him that everyone liked him and he was respected because he was so friendly and outgoing. I was really shy and reserved. We knew each other only in "passing". When I went off to Texas A&M I didn't even know that Tommy had also chosen to attend there.
One day right at the start of the first semester I was sitting in Freshman Chemistry lecture which was a huge classroom of about 300 students. I was looking over the class and noticed Tommy sitting down if front of me. I stepped our of my comfort zone and went down and started talking to him and automatically bonded with him because we were Waltrip grads and had that in common. We had a great time all during that semester and I looked forward to going to class. We always talked about getting together after class but never did. After reading his Obituary I really wish we had gotten together. I knew Tommy for a very short time but I will always remember our time together in Chemistry class.