Thomas E. "Tom" ANDERSON

1954 - 2018

ANDERSON, Thomas E. "Tom"

After a devastatingly short battle with cancer, Tom Anderson passed away peacefully on June 26, 2018, surrounded by family and friends. Tom was born December 6, 1954, to Roland and Joyce Anderson in Snoqualmie Falls, Washington. The first of three children, the family relocated to Spokane in 1959.
Growing up, Tom loved to snow ski, snowmobile, play softball, and loved watching football and live music. He graduated from Mead Senior High in 1973 and attended Spokane Falls Community College thereafter.
After schooling, Tom joined the family business of moving and storage. Accompanying his father on long-distance road trips, he soon showed an obvious talent for driving "eighteen-wheelers," eventually becoming a decorated and respected professional driver in his field. He was also a proud Rotarian for many years, serving as his chapter's president. Besides his children, Tom's true love was the outdoors and he was an avid hunter and fisherman all his life. He cherished the annual hunters' barbeques up at Roscoe's Ranch in Bickleton, WA and they became the foundation for many life-long friendships including Jimmy Thompson. Throughout his children's lives, Tom was at the forefront. He had a relentless sense of humor which he maintained up through his last days.
Tom is preceded in death by his mother, Joyce E. Anderson.
Tom is survived by his children, Rochelle and Trevor Anderson, his father, Roland V. Anderson, sisters Diana West (Greg), Mary Jo Oldfield (Brian), nieces Tanya West (Dan Neace), Kelsey Vriethoff (Scott),Taylor Oldfield (Raquel), nephew Josh West, grandnieces Kennedy and Parker Vriethoff and soon to be grandnephew, baby boy Neace.
An intimate memorial service will be held Saturday, July 28th at the Sunset Hill Chapel, Fairmount Memorial Park, at 11 am (5200 W. Wellesley, Spokane, WA) with a Celebration of Life to follow from 1-3 pm at the VFW Post 1435 (212 S. David, Spokane Valley, WA.)