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Thomas McCarthy Obituary
September 10, 1936 November 4, 2021
Born September 10, 1936 to his loving parents Owen and Marjorie McCarthy in Bakersfield, California. Tommy attended Fairfax Elementary School/Jr. High and Graduated from East Bakersfield High School in 1954. He grew up with his two best friends. Big sister Margie and little brother Owen. They were always everything to each other.
Tom started his career as a firefighter with the Kern County Fire Department in 1958 and quickly rose through the ranks as Engineer, Captain, Battalion Chief, Fire Marshall, Division Chief, Deputy Chief and finally the Chief of the Department in 1986 until his retirement in 1995. He was a trailblazer in leading the KCFD to a modern model of mutual assistance between the neighboring fire departments. He was so proud to be a founding member of the National Fire Academy and made life-long, treasured friends throughout his career.
During his life he was active in many organizations including:
Bakersfield Museum of Art
Boy Scouts of America
Southern Sierra Council
California Fire Chiefs Association
The National Fire Academy
Toastmasters of Bakersfield
He never missed his beloved Wednesday Morning Coffee Bunch
and Fridays at Luigi's.
He was especially known for his magical craftsmanship. He always had a project going in his pristine workshop. He was constantly building tables and gates, tiki bars, fireplace mantles and kitchen shelves and engineering & welding frames and latches of all kinds. If you knew him, he built something for you. Anything we ever needed he would design it and craft it and bring it to us and install it. His happy place was in his garage workshop. He had one if not three sets of every tool invented. He could fix anything that needed fixing and would drop anything he was doing to help any of us at anytime. He was our fixer.
He met the love of his life Debbi Ritchie McCarthy on a blind date in December 1998 and he was never the same in the most extraordinary way. They were the perfect match and adored each other. They traveled the world together and made so many amazing memories with family and friends and were always the first ones at every event and party. They brought all the love & fun wherever they went. Dad gained a beautiful, devoted wife and we gained a super fun mum.
Dad was a true gentleman with an Irish whimsy and the gift of laughter. Eternally optimistic and driven by his curiosity and zest for life and genuine love for people. We are the luckiest to have had such a brilliant, extraordinary father. He taught us by example how to work hard, tell the truth, love unconditionally and see the good in everything. He loved us so well.
He was a wonderful and generous Husband, Dad, Grandpa, Great Grandpa, Brother, Uncle, Friend and Neighbor. He was extremely proud of everyone in his life and never missed an opportunity to let us know. His favorite times were when we were all together. We are beyond truly blessed to have had such a devoted, steadfast, inspiring, loving patriarch to lead our close-knit McCarthy/Wicks family. We will love and miss him forever and do our best to carry on his legacy of lightness, laughter, story-telling and love.
Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Owen and Marjorie McCarthy and his best friend and brother Owen McCarthy. He is survived by his wife, Debbi McCarthy. His five children Thomas McCarthy Jr. (Helmut Safar), Kym Showers (Jeff), Kathy Lykes (Joe), Jasi Sotello (Gilbert) and Karri Ruenzel. Sister Marge Wicks Smith (Ed) and Sister-in Law Berta McCarthy. 10 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren, 13 nephews/nieces and spouses. Many extended family members and close, close friends.
We'll celebrate his amazing life this Saturday, November 13th, 11:00 am at Valley Baptist Church, Fruitvale Ave, Bakersfield California. Please join us. If you would like to honor him, in lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to either National Firefighters Foundation or Burn Survivors Association.
Always take the high road. - Tom McCarthy
www.bakersfield.com/obits
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Thomas McCarthy
Clyde Griffin
November 10, 2025
TOM WAS ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO HELPED LEAD ME TO THE LORD. I WOULD STOP BY HIS HOUSE AND HAVE COFFEE WHILE I WAS ON PATROL AS DEPUTY. HE WAS A GREAT PERSON AND FRIEND.
HE IS SOMEONE YOU COULD COUNT ON FOR ADVICE WHEN YOU ASKED FOR IT AND BE SURE
IT WAS FROM HIS HEART.
Tina
December 1, 2021
Our deepest condolences
CeCe Algra
November 12, 2021
I am so sorry to hear of Tom's passing. My sympathy to you, Debi. Pete and I shared so many good times with you both and I will always remember his great smile and sense of humor. It's hard to believe they're both gone. We honor their memory. Tom will be so very much missed.
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Clyde and Patty Griffin
November 10, 2021
To all of Tom's family and wife Debbi we send our condolences from Tennessee since we can not be there in person. He was a great man and a great Christian witness to my husband who at the time was with the K.C. Sheriffs Dept. He raised a great family and left great legacy.
I am sure he is hearing Michael W. Smiths song "Angels Singing Welcome Home."
Janie Gutierrez
November 10, 2021
I had the privilege of working for a short time at the Kern County Fire Department he was a very kind man genuine man always smiling. May you now Rest with the angels.
Deborah Lechtreck Miller
November 10, 2021
I never saw Tom that he did not have that golden smile on his face. I look around my house and see so many things crafted by him in that famous garage and installed by him. What an honor it was to know him. He will be missed by so many.
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