After a full life Lt. Cmdr. Thomas L. Moore USN (Ret) left us April 24, 2008 to be with his wife Virginia, who preceded him to Heaven on Dec. 23, 1975.

He was born in Carroll, Iowa June 23, 1927. His father, Thomas L. Moore, passed away shortly before his birth. His mother, Mary Theresa Moore, returned to her family home and Tom was raised with his aunts and uncles. Tom graduated from Carroll High School and joined the CCC and working on Mt Rainier. Tom enlisted in the United States Navy and received an appointment to the US Naval Academy graduating in 1950, then attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology and received master’s degrees in Electrical Engineering and Naval Architecture.

While studying at MIT, Tom met his future wife Virginia Theresa McPartlin of Winchester, Mass. They were married Dec. 26, 1959. During his naval career Tom and Ginny had three children and he retired to Whidbey Island in 1970 after 20 years of service to his country.

After a brief retirement Tom began working again on his second career as an educator. Tom developed and created the Marine Technology program which was offered to local high schools as vocational training. The program was successful and was incorporated in the Skagit Valley College curriculum, Whidbey Campus in Oak Harbor. The program is known today as Marine Maintenance Technology. Tom retired for the second time as a tenured professor in 1991.

While on Whidbey, Tom was involved in numerous community organizations. He served on the Parish Council at St. Hubert in Langley, was an active member in Boy Scout Troop 57 serving as a committee member and the South Whidbey Lions Club. Tom was an avid boater and spent any time he could on the water fishing and cruising. Tom joined the US Power Squadron in Oak Harbor and rose through the ranks to become an instructor navigation and boat handling.

In retirement Tom was active with many hobbies and interests. He loved woodworking and traveling as well as cooking and reading.

Tom passed away peacefully at Careage of Whidbey after a long battle with respiratory disease.

Tom is survived by his three children and their families, Thomas L. Moore Jr. (T.L.) and wife Sue, their sons Mike and Steve of Langley, Mark Moore and wife Lori of Langley, and Anne Cervantes and husband Tony, their children Alyssa, A.J., and Alex of Snohomish.

A funeral Mass was held April 30 at St. Hubert with burial at Langley Cemetery. Arrangements by Visser Funeral Home.