Thomas Norman Park

HAMILTON - Thomas Norman Park, 90, of Hamilton passed away peacefully at the Discovery Care Centre on Father's Day, June 20th, 2010 surrounded by family. He was born in Great Falls, MT on December 5, 1919 the son of Thomas Park and Betsey "Bessie" Ann Norman.

Tom graduated from Great Falls High School in 1937 and moved to San Diego, CA with his parents shortly after. He then graduated from Ryan School of Aeronautics in 1938 and worked at Lockheed Aircraft Corp from 1939 to 1944. He enlisted into the US Navy in 1944 and served in the Philippines as an Electronics Technicians Mate 2nd Class until his honorable discharge in 1946.

Tom was briefly self-employed with a recording and sound equipment business prior to starting his career with Pacific Telephone in 1949. He was very proud with his work in analyzing new telephone equipment and writing training courses for new employees. Tom retired in 1979 and mentioned recently that he worked for 30 years and had been retired for 32 years, an act which pleased him very much.

Tom married Edith May Inglis in 1953 in California, raising three children. Edith preceded him in death in 1994. Tom married Mona Kromray in 1995 in Hamilton, MT.

He was a man of many talents and interests. His love of music was enjoyed by many. Tom had a special gift of being able to hear a tune once and could play it flawlessly on the piano or organ.

Tom was a ham radio operator with the call sign "W7EGN". He received his license in 1934, talking all over the world and making many contacts. In his early years he was a pigeon fancier, receiving many ribbons for his prized birds. Tom was a wonderful writer, leaving our family with many stories of his life and experiences.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Bessie; his wife, Edith; and his grandson, Brandon. He is survived by his wife, Mona, of Hamilton; his daughters, Nancy Park of Chico, CA, Kathryn Robinson and husband Richard of Chico, CA and Eileen Jackson and husband JC of Stevensville; his son, Robert Park of Chico, CA; his grandsons, David, Cody and Jason; and seven great-grandchildren.