Thomas L. Pehl Jr.

Sept. 21, 1941 - Oct. 26, 2006

Born in Richmond, Calif., to Margiree and Thomas Leroy Pehl. Tom grew up in Rodeo, Calif., and attended St. Vincent's High School in Vallejo, Calif., from which he graduated in 1959. He then attended the University of New Mexico where he met and married (July 13, 1962) Nancy Stewart, who would bear him three sons and be with him until the end. In Dec. 1962, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a nuclear power Interior Communications electrician. During his enlistment he served in three deployments off of Vietnam on board the USS Truxtun (DLGN-35). He accepted a commission as an officer in June 1972 and served in the Naval Reactors Representative's Office in Shippingsport, Pa., and Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Calif. During his time at MINSY, Tom continued his education, resulting in a quality assurance engineering degree from Southern Illinois University. After retiring from the Navy in Dec. 1987, he contracted with engineering firms in the bay area and Los Alamos, N.M. On Sept. 9, 1999, Tom was diagnosed with non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. He accepted this as a challenge and aggressively pursued his treatment with the good people at David Grant Medical Center, Travis AFB and UC Davis Hospital in Sacramento, Calif. During this time he did volunteer work at David Grant in the Opthalmology Clinic and served on the Vallejo Sanitation and Flood Advisory Committee. He also loved to sail on the bay onboard his boat "Friday." When his health prevented him from volunteer work and sailing, he spent his time on the internet and reading on a multitude of subjects. Seven years after his diagnosis, Tom passed away at 11:15 p.m. on Oct. 26, 2006, in the arms of his wife.

Preceded in death by his parents, Tom leaves behind Nancy, his wife of 44 years, Margaret Nahhas, his mother-in-law of 44 years, his sons, Fred of Vallejo, Konrad of Sea Ranch, Calif., and Martin, daughter-in-law, Anna, and granddaughter, Emily, all of Vacaville. Tom is also survived by his brothers, Charles (Sandra) of Houston, Texas, Peter of Seattle, Wash., Jeff (Dale) of Virginia Beach, Va., and George (Lawrence) of Houston, Texas, his sisters, Lucille Williams of Crowley, Texas and Sarah (John) Nixon of Houston, Texas, and many nephews and nieces.

In accordance with his wishes of no services, an impromptu gathering will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, 2006, at the Vallejo Yacht Club.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Tom's favorite charity: The Vietnam Children's Fund, P.O. Box 150, Unionville, VA 22567.