Timothy John Short

1944 - 2022

Timothy John Short
Timothy John Short passed away at home with his loving family at his side. The only child born to John Wilber Short and Betty Louise Short (Braatz) in San Mateo, CA. He was 78. Timothy and Carol recently celebrated their 55th Wedding Anniversary. Left to cherish his memory are his wife Carol, daughter Stacie Watts (Caleb) and step-granddaughter Emma of Bonners Ferry, ID, step-granddaughter Jessica Randall (Josh) of Three Forks, MT, daughter Robin Short and cherished grandson Gunnar Dell of Truckee, CA, step-brothers Jim, Dan and Bill McCauley and step-sister Sharon Flynn; godson Chris Hansen; first cousin Robert Hintz (Suellen), second cousin Ronald Short (Kay), nephews, Benjamin Holt (Christin), Devin Davis (Shalyn), Matthew Holt (Emily), Nathan Holt (fiance Holly), Nicholas Holt (Jen), Caleb Lugo, Jared Lugo and their families. Many extended family and friends. He was preceded in death by his mother, father and step-father Jim McCauley.
As a child he came to Boyes Hot Springs Bath House with his parents and grandparents. Eventually his grandparents purchased a cabin in Boyes Hot Springs. In '51, he and his mom lived there for a year prior to joining his dad in Hawaii, traveling by US Navy ship. They lived in Honolulu, Hawaii from '52 to '53 while his dad was stationed there. They returned on the USNS Barrett in March '53, sailing from Pearl Harbor to San Francisco, CA. His family moved into the Boyes Hot Springs cabin as their home until they purchased their Glen Ellen home, where he was raised from the age of nine. He came to know Ray and Evelyn Holt who owned the corner store, they were the first to offer him a store credit account, and later became his in-laws. After starting his family, they moved into the Boyes Hot Springs cabin, remodeling it and raised his two daughters. He spent countless hours gathering wood for warm winter morning fires for his family, working on vehicles and the family home, and supporting his daughters horse habits.
Graduating Sonoma Valley High School in '61, he attended Santa Rosa Junior College and graduated from Sonoma State University in '74. He began his career as an electrician at Pacific Bell. He then became a submarine electrician at Mare Island Naval Shipyard Shop 51 where he retired after twenty years. A short time into retirement, he began working at Sonoma Developmental Center retiring in 2009.
He enlisted in the California National Guard in '64. A SP4 E-4 of the 256th Engr. Co. Petaluma, CA. He was mobilized during the riots in Watts, Los Angeles, CA in '65. Honorably discharged in '66.
Timothy had an adventurous heart. He and his friend Dave Mikita vacationed in Honolulu, Hawaii. The little beach house he had lived in had been replaced with high rises noting everything had changed from when he lived there. Timothy and Louie Bava went to Quito, Ecuador on a gold expedition. On their way home they took the opportunity to return a rental car from Miami to the Montreal World's Fair. His next international trip was spent backpacking to Central America to do research for his degree. Glenn O'Neil and Timothy drove new vans to Glenn's in-law's coffee plantation in El Salvador. Taking his dog Max and his van he traveled to the Oroville area. During that trip he met "Redwood" which led to many Scorpio parties and bottle hunting. He spent many weekends camping and traveling with his family throughout Northern California and the Oregon Coast. He took his family on a memorable trip to Mexico traveling by train and bus staying in beach side accommodations, and a family pension in Guadalajara. Timothy and Carol made many trips to Mexico visiting various cities. He loved using public transportation.
He was a member of Devils Darlin's in the '60s. His cars were '60 Corvette, Fire Frost Royal Blue and a '29 Model A Pickup he purchased from Mr. Helms of Simmons Pharmacy. Member of KQED and Sierra Club. His hobbies were reading, jogging, scouring classifieds, keeping up on history and news. He was an avid coin collector from childhood. He loved spending time at the ocean where he enjoyed abalone diving, taking in the solace and strength it offers. He spent many days on the beach with his family around a fire.
Heartfelt thanks to Stacie Watts and Magdalena Gomez who assisted Carol in caring for Timothy.
Celebration of Life will be Saturday, October 22, 2022 from 2-4pm at Mayflower Hall, 5311 O'Donnell Ln., Glen Ellen, CA 95442. Private interment, Mountain Cemetery.
Known for his love of dogs, donations in his name may be made to Family Dog Rescue, PO Box 40177, San Francisco, CA 94140, where we got our beautiful Norrie!, or Pet's Lifeline, 19686 8th Street East, Sonoma, CA 95476.