Thomas Eugene Stidham, known to most as Tom, born on October 31, 1936, in Dayton, Ohio, passed away on August 22, 2026, in Kennewick, Washington, leaving behind a rich legacy of love, family, and adventure. He was a devoted husband to Shirley Stidham and a proud father to his five children: Kent (Staci) Stidham of Beaverton, Oregon, David Stidham of Aspen, Colorado, Mark Stidham (deceased), Thomas (Kathleen) Stidham Jr of Olympia, Washington and Carol (Thomas) Crane of St. Charles, Illinois and their families. Thomas was especially fond of his grandchildren, Samantha and Parker Stidham, Matthew and Grant Stidham and Zoe and Zachary Crane, whom he adored and cherished. He is survived by siblings Richard Stidham of Dayton, Ohio, Robert Stidham of Dayton, Ohio and Marianne Ashline of Bristol, Connecticut. He is preceded in death by his son Mark Stidham, parents Chester and Margaret Stidham and his brother Jim Stidham. He will be remembered for his unwavering support and dedication to family. He organized huge family reunions through the Timen Stiddem Society, which at one time he served as President and was still very active and kept track of everyone’s birthdays, both near and far. If you knew Tom even a little, you most likely received a phone call and card in the mail each year. Tom never met a stranger. To him every person was just a friend he hadn’t met yet.

Tom lived a spiritual life filled with passions and interests. An avid sports enthusiast, he not only watched but participated in just about every sport out there and began refereeing volleyball in the 1980’s and was still up on the stand last Fall at 89 years old. His love for sports extended to traveling, where he and Shirley journeyed to events like the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City and even got lost in the magnificent Swiss Alps (whatever you do, don’t ask for directions). His adventurous spirit was matched only by his enthusiasm for life’s sweetest pleasures, including anything baked and sweet, making blueberry pancakes and supporting all the local wineries, as well as his hobby of collecting coins.

In his professional life, Tom attended Springfield College in Massachusetts, graduating in 1958 with a degree in physical education and worked for the YMCA for many years. He changed gears in the late 70’s and started work in construction procurement until he retired. His time spent working with Bechtel Construction took him all over the country and world, with two years in Saudi Arabia working on the King Khalid International Airport construction. He remained active throughout his 89 years, driving across the country yearly to visit friends and family showcasing his commitment to staying connected with loved ones. Whether through daily phone calls, lending a hand when needed or showing up at your front door with a bag of apples and a bottle of wine, Tom embodied kindness and generosity. He especially loved all his neighbors in West Richland and his kids loved that he had such an amazing support system around him.

A celebration of Tom’s life will take place on September 16, 2026, at the Event Center at Sunset Gardens at 11:00 am. Following this, his family will host a committal service in the cemetery. A reception at the Event Center will conclude the day’s events, beginning at 12:30 pm. Tom’s spirit, kindness and generosity will continue to shine through the lives he touched, reminding us all to embrace life’s adventures and love our families fiercely.