Thomas Alfred York

Thomas Alfred York passed away peacefully on Monday, April 29, 2024. Born in Wyandotte, Michigan, Tom found the love of his life with Ann Elizabeth Nugent at the age of 10. It took him another seven years to work up the courage to ask her on a date. They were married in 1966 and were blessed to have celebrated 57 years of marriage together. Tom and Ann were truly lifelong, loving partners. An alumnus of Michigan State University and the University of Missouri, Tom served as a career Army Officer. He volunteered for Officer Candidate School in 1968 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army Corps of Engineers in 1969. During his 30 years, the Army moved Tom and Ann 25 times with assignments ranging from Korea to Germany and Georgia to Alaska (twice). He had the honor to command A Company, 10th Engineers, the 562nd Engineer Company, the 6th Engineer Battalion and the Military District of New York. Tom retired from the Army as a Colonel in 1998 and continued as a registered professional engineer in Virginia building a university hospital and in Alaska on the National Missile Defense Project. Tom had a remarkable gift to quickly make personal connections with complete strangers. His laugh was spontaneous and easy and widely shared. He loved the outdoors, whether bicycling, kayaking, canoeing, skiing, hiking or nature watching, he always was looking to create the next big adventure. Part of his legacy is a well-loved flotilla of canoes, kayaks, and rowing sculls spread from Virginia to Alaska. Tom gave his time freely. He coached all of his sons’ sports teams through grade school and never missed his kids (or grandkids) events. He was known for his creative soccer drills long before there were assistant coaches named Google. Always active within his church, he enjoyed bible studies, working with youth, cleaning up and welcoming everyone who walked through the church doors. His spirit and infectious enthusiasm for life impacted everyone he had a chance to meet - whether for the first time or if he knew you his entire life. The son of Thomas Alfred and Ruth Marion York, the oldest of four children. Tom is survived by his sister, Denise Goin of Wyandotte, Michigan; brother Robert York of Dayton, Ohio; and brother William York of Denver, Colorado. Tom and Ann have two sons and five grandchildren. His son, Thomas Ambrose York and his wife, Mary Frances of Richmond, Virginia and their children, Elizabeth Martha, William Ambrose and Sarah Frances' and son Robert William “Bo” York and his wife Bonnie Elizabeth of Anchorage, Alaska and their children Magdalen Sarah and Samuel Pete. Tom was a wonderful brother, father, grandpa and has many friends, families and relatives who he loved dearly. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, May 11th at 11:00 a.m. at his home church, River Road United Methodist Church in Richmond, Virginia with internment at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers or gifts, a donation to the Alzheimer’s Association, alz.org/grva in his honor would be appreciated.