Thomas W. Dolman

1943 - 2016

Thomas Winslow "T.W." Dolman, 73, passed away peacefully at home with family in Idaho Falls on Monday, Aug. 1, 2016. He was born in Twin Falls, Idaho, on Feb. 7, 1943, as the only child of Worden Bryson Dolman and Martha Farr Dolman.

In 1953, at the age of 10, with his father and uncle, Corky Farr, he built the family cabin in Cowan Addition of Island Park, Idaho. The legacy of the cabin remains today as a core place for multiple generations of Dolman family reunions, where family members will continue to enjoy sharing of food, motor boating, water skiing, trout fishing, dirt biking and mountain respite!

T.W. graduated from Idaho Falls High School in 1961 and completed a year of college at University of Idaho, Moscow.

In January 1964, he married Phyllis Turco in Idaho Falls. They had two sons - Brock in 1964 in Memphis, Tenn., and Dirk in 1967 in Orange, Calif. They divorced in 1980 but always remained good friends.

In November 1963, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps. He advanced from private to warrant officer to captain, all without a college degree. He served three years in Vietnam, working in the avionics field, fixing black boxes in OV10's and H1 Hueys'. In typical military family fashion, they lived in many places such as: Millington, Tenn.; Camp Pendleton, Calif., (three different times); Iwakuni, Japan; Patuxent River, Md.; and Virginia. He retired from the USMC after 21 years at Camp Pendleton. He was always Semper Fi!

T.W. returned home to Idaho Falls in 1987 and for nearly 30 years happily lived with his life-partner, Carole Anne Pruett, in their Idaho Falls home, where he became a father to Carole's daughter, Melanie Pruett. Each year, as early as possible in the season, he would head up the hill to reside, for the majority of summer, at the cabin in Island Park.

According to his wishes, he will be cremated in Idaho Falls and have his ashes scattered in Island Park.

T.W. is survived by his two sons, Brock Dolman (Kerry Brady) in Occidental, Calif., and Dirk Dolman in Caldwell, Idaho; his two grandchildren, Wesly Dolman in Caldwell and Heather Dolman in Columbus, Ohio, with his twin great-granddaughters, Stormy and Ivy Dolman; Carole Pruett, life partner, in Idaho Falls; and Melanie Pruett in Idaho Falls. He's also survived by Ella Turco, mother-in-law in Caldwell; Liz Turco (Jim Lucas), sister-in-law, in Oregon; Tom Turco (Margaret), brother-in-law, in Boise, Idaho; Phyllis Turco (Hal Overman), ex-wife, in Huston, Idaho; and Jack Larson, good friend, in Pennsylvania.

He answered to many names - T.W., "T", Tom, Tommy Win, Dad, Pops and Grandpa T, but he always remained the same "steady as a rock" man. He was a kind, gentle man with great love for his family and friends and always ready to lend a helping hand in service to country and community. We love and will deeply miss you.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.coltrinmortuary.com.