|
Sue McKinny (Short)
Remember Mr. Sowles???
Thomas Harry Sowles
1946 - 2015
 Loving husband and father, Thomas Harry Sowles, died suddenly at the age of 68 on Sunday, Jan. 4, 2015 at the Mayo Clinic Hospital in Scottsdale, Ariz. Tom lived in Payson, Ariz. with his loving wife, Barbara Jean Sowles.
Tom was born in Worthington, Minn. on Aug. 18, 1946 to Harry and Clare Sowles. Tom grew up there working summers as a lifeguard and enjoyed hunting duck and pheasant with his dad and friends. He attended Worthington High School and went on to Mankato State University, where he became a champion wrestler and achieved a Bachelor of Science degree in English. After graduation, he was immediately drafted into the United States Army, serving his tour of duty in Vietnam. After being discharged, he moved to Bloomington, Minn. and began a career at Kennedy High School as an English teacher and wrestling coach.
Eight years later, he met and married the love of his life, Barb, and got into the car business. Tom and Barb moved to Apple Valley, Minn. and had son, John, and daughters, Liz and Katie.
After years of harsh weather, they decided to move to a fairer climate in San Diego, Calif. to raise their young family. Tom continued his career in the car business until retiring at the age of 62. He and Barb then moved to Payson, Ariz. for a slower pace of life. It was a bit too slow, so Tom decided to try a new career as a detention officer in Gila County. He was a gun enthusiast and member of the Tonto Rim Sportsman’s Club in Payson.
His love of automobiles was an obsessive hobby of sorts throughout his life. It all started with a a ’62 Corvette, but he restored ’60s vintage Chevy trucks and Novas mostly, moving on to Isuzu Troopers and Toyota trucks later in life. He couldn’t have just one of each. He wanted to buy them all.
Tom is survived by his loving wife, Barbara Jean Sowles; children, John (and wife Savannah Sowles), Elizabeth Sowles, Katherine Sowles; and granddaughter, Hailey Sowles-Thompson; sisters, Susan Nasers and Mary Burchill; multiple nieces and nephews. He is loved and will be missed.
|
Merry Christmas everyone!
Merry Christmas , Happy Holidays, and Happy New Year to all my 1978 classmates.
