Thomas Wooldridge

Thomas G. Wooldridge

October 28, 1937

May 22, 2012

Thomas G. Wooldridge passed away on May 22, 2012 at his home in Sparks, Nevada with his loving wife and youngest son by his side. The oldest of four children, Thom was born on Oct. 28, 1937 in Portland, Oregon to Walter and Pearl Wooldridge. He spent his early years in Vanport, Oregon until the Columbia River flooded the area leaving Vanport's inhabitants homeless. From there his family relocated to Vancouver, Washington where he attended Mac High and FVHS. Thom proudly served his country in the U.S. Army's 101 Airborne Division from 1955 - 1958 and was stationed in Japan, a place he spoke of with much love and respect.

Professionally Thom was a gifted carpenter, always taking the greatest pride and care in the quality of his work. Upon moving to Sparks, Nevada with his family in 1973, Thom worked as a journeyman carpenter, shortly there after he began his own contracting business, Wooldridge Construction. He also worked for Bailey McGah, now Bailey & Dutton Homes, for 25 years, putting his stamp on most of the neighborhoods in the Reno/Sparks Area until he retired seven years ago.

Thom loved great entertainment and was passionate about all sports. He enjoyed the culinary arts, and sharing his expertise in cuisine with many friends. Card games, cool new gadgets, Louis L'Amour novels, biographies, telling colorful stories of his past, and drinking coffee in the back yard with his wife were all common activities. Thom also loved teaching his sons and young apprentices the building trade for which he was a true master. He was a connoisseur of film and television, particularly Westerns. Most of all Thom loved his family. He was a selfless man who was very proud of his family and always put them first.

Thom Wooldridge was a uniquely honest, and hard working family man with a solid set of values. Thom's wonderful sense of humor will be remembered forever. His superhuman strength and fearless determination led to several near death experiences and also kept him on the edge between life and death for many years. He was ladies man and a man's man. He was a true individual who stood out simply by just being him. He called things the way he saw them, and never found it his business to judge another. His larger than life presence was felt and loved by many and he will be deeply missed. It was a true privilege to know and love him.

Thom is survived by his wife of 42 years, Antoinette Wooldridge, his children, Mark Wooldridge, Bret Wooldridge, Jimmy Ferber, Thomas Wooldridge, Brandon Sommerfeld, Jennifer Cummings, Nicholas Wooldridge, and Jedediah Wooldridge. His sisters, Sandee Johnson and Linda Walker, his brother Fred Wooldridge, his grandchildren, Shane Wooldridge, Tyler Woolddridge, Brettney Jennings, Jessica Forte, Natalja Sommerfeld, Wylder Cummings, and Jack Cummings, his great granddaughter Raelan Wooldridge, nieces and nephews and many dear friends.

A celebration of Thom's life will take place Friday, June 22 from 1 - 5 pm at the Red Cross Community Room: 605 Barnes Road, Vancouver Barracks.