Thomas O. Seabolt

"Thom", of Farmington Hills, unexpectedly passed into eternal life on Friday, July 18, 2025. He was 81 years old.
Thom was born in Detroit on June 3, 1944, to the late Moses and Grace (Donavin) Seabolt. He married Barbara L. (Stulz) on November 7, 1964, at Village Presbyterian Church in Redford.
Thom is survived by his beloved wife of over 60 years, Barbara; devoted children, Marcella (Jim) Kehus and Scott (Janis) Seabolt; cherished grandchildren, Haley (Justin) Hurst-Kehus, Emma Kehus, and Shannon, Jacob and Joy Seabolt; a great-granddaughter, Phoebe Hurst-Kehus; and siblings, Larry (Veronica) Seabolt, Patrick (Janet) Seabolt and Virginia Seabolt. Sadly, Thom was preceded in death by a grandson, Kyle Kehus, in 2018, and a sister, Margaret Haugen.
Thom met the love of his life, Barb, in 1961 at Club 182, where they later saw 13-year-old Little Steve Wonder perform.
Thom graduated from Redford Union High School in 1962, and he had many lifelong friends from high school. They would all hang out at places like Tel-Way Drive In (Grand River & Telegraph).
Thom enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1962. In the Air Force, Thom developed skills in the new frontier of computer science. He was stationed overseas in Turkey for part of the time, where he worked in communications during the Cold War.
In 1964, Thom and Barb married at Village Presbyterian Church in Redford, Michigan. He was 20. She was 17. They were married for over 60 years. They first lived in Topeka, Kansas, where Thom was stationed. While in Kansas, they survived an F5 tornado, though Thom was blown through a plate-glass door. They welcomed their daughter, Marcella, in 1965. Thom was honorably discharged from the Air Force in 1966, and they relocated to Detroit. They moved into their lifelong home in Farmington Hills in 1970. Their son Scott was born in 1971.
After the Air Force, Thom pursued a career in computer science. He held positions of increasing responsibility in data systems, beginning with a decade-long stint at National Cash Register (NCR). Thom worked in the trucking, banking, municipal government, and automotive industries. He ran his own data systems consulting business for several years. He taught courses at a local community college. Thom retired as the Director of Operations at a data systems consulting firm after a 40-plus-year career.
Thom loved to coach his kids in sports. Thom coached Marcella in soccer and softball. He coached Scott in soccer. In the 1970s, soccer was a relatively new phenomenon in the States. Thom set to learning the game by reading books, going to coaching clinics, and watching games. So began a decades-long love affair with the beautiful game. He made lifelong friends with other parents and coaches.
Thom and Barb loved to dance. Although not Polish, they joined a Polish dance group born of dear friends from soccer. They later transferred their skills to an Irish dance group where, again, they made lifelong friends.
In 1987, Thom and Barb's daughter, Marcella, married Jim Kehus. In 1998, their son Scott married Janis Koeppen. Thom greatly enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren, Kyle Kehus (1990-2018), Haley Kehus (1993), Emma Kehus (1997), Shannon Seabolt (2000), Jacob Seabolt (2001), and Joy Seabolt (2009). He especially enjoyed attending his grandkids' soccer games, dance competitions, cheerleading competitions, and track meets. And he never missed a family celebration.
Thom and Barb have an adventurous spirit. They traveled the world together, visiting five continents, 31 countries, 43 states, and two US territories. In the early 2000s, they took up sailing with some dear friends and sailed all the way through the British Virgin Islands. In 2016, they bought a teardrop camper and began traveling to rallies and campgrounds around the country with their dog Maggie. And, of course, they made yet another set of very dear friends.
Raised protestant, Thom converted to Catholicism in 1991. He was an active member of his church community, first at St. Alexander's and more recently at St. Gerald's, both in Farmington, Michigan. More recently, Thom enjoyed being a member of the Knights of Columbus, where he made many more friends.
Family and friends may gather for visitation at the Heeney-Sundquist Funeral Home in downtown Farmington on Friday, July 25, from 2-8 pm. Remembrances and prayers will commence at 6:45 pm.
Thom's funeral mass will be celebrated Saturday morning, July 26th, at 10:00 am (in state 9:30 am) at St. Gerald Catholic Church, 21300 Farmington Rd., Farmington. Military funeral honors will conclude the ceremony.
Interment will take Tuesday, July 29, at 2:30 pm, at Great Lakes National Cemetery, Holly.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the Detroit Police Athletic League, the Purple Heart Foundation, or the Salvation Army.