Thomas "Tom" Patrick Donaldson

Thomas (Tom) Patrick Donaldson was born on December 14, 1929, and passed away August 31, 2024, peacefully at the family home of his niece and nephew in Peoria, Arizona surrounded by loved ones.

Tom was born in Atchison, Kansas, then relocated with his family to the Pacific Northwest when he was seven years old. He and his family moved and lived between Walla Walla, Washington, and Caldwell, Idaho during his youth. In high school he was active in ROTC. He graduated high school in Caldwell, Idaho. He attended the University of Idaho in Moscow then transferred to and graduated from University of Southern California in June 1957. He lived in California for many years. His home was in Long Beach, California at the time of his passing.

His first marriage was to Beverly Diamond. They married on September 15, 1950, and later divorced in 1972.

In 1974 he married the love of his life Patricia Lawrence, they shared 40 wonderful years together before her passing in May of 2014. They loved to entertain. Tom and Patti’s home welcomed all with open arms and great southern cooking. Their home was a favorite vacation destination for many nieces and nephews, who were frequent visitors and were entertained with trips to Disneyland and other amusement parks, as well as the beach and many other fun activities to entertain them. Another favorite of many was their beautiful home in Mexico.

Tom and Patti had a passion for animals and had many canine family members that enriched their lives.

Tom’s career path began in Alaska where he worked as a commercial fisherman alongside his very good friend and father-in-law, Orin Diamond. While in Alaska, Tom also worked as a limousine driver and mechanic during the off-fishing season. Later he began working in the petroleum industry for Mobil Oil where he traveled world-wide. When he left the employment of Mobil Oil, together with Patti, Tom started a transportation company hauling paper products then later began a petroleum transport business that he and Patti operated in Southern California, which is currently Southwest Trails, Inc.

Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Virginia Donaldson; his wife, Patti Donaldson; his sister, Mary Donaldson; his brothers, Mike Donaldson and Joe Donaldson; and nephew, Dennis Knight. He is survived by his sister, Sarah Jane Smith, his cousin Virginia (Pud) Harrison, as well as many nieces and nephews, many great and great-great nieces and nephews, his Southwest Trails employee family and close friends.

A public recitation of the Rosary in Tom’s honor will be held at the Chapel of the Herring Funeral Home on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, at 6:00 PM, and his memorial funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Walla Walla, on Wednesday, October 23, 2024, at 10:00 AM. Mass is also open to the public. You need not be Catholic to attend the Rosary service or funeral Mass. Friends and family are invited to a Celebration of Life in Long Beach, California, on Sunday, October 27, 2024, beginning at 1:00 PM.

The family requests donations, in lieu of flowers, to Blue Mountain Humane Society of Walla Walla or a charity of your choice through the Herring Groseclose Funeral Home, 315 W Alder St, Walla Walla WA 99362. Friends and family are invited to sign the online guestbook at www.herringgroseclose.com.