Thomas (Tom) C. Bardin, 75, of Twisp, died Wednesday, Oct. 24, in God’s perfect timing, with his wife, Marilyn, beside him at Jamie’s Place in Winthrop. Though Alzheimer’s and dementia claimed his body, he was the same loving, quick-witted, spirited guy up to that very day.
John 10:25 — “Jesus said I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.” Tom believed this.
Tom was born Dec. 26, 1942, in Dewar, Oklahoma, to James and Bonnie (Wakefield) Bardin. His family moved around quite a bit — wherever his dad’s job took them. He spent his school years in Payson and Springville, Utah. Tom was in Boy Scouts, played trumpet in the high school band, had a paper route and served as a short-order cook at Smitty’s Café. He graduated from Springville High in 1960. Through his life, Tom lived in California, Washington, Ohio, Maryland and again in Washington. He ended his first career as a vice president of Telxon Corporation after a long and rewarding job involving hand-held computer sales. He retired at 62, hoping to draw back some of the Social Security he’d paid into for 46 years. He liked to fish, work on home improvement projects, visit friends and relatives in their fifth-wheel RVs — pretty much anything that didn’t involve airplane travel.
After his retirement, he launched a very different career plowing snow for Gold Creek Road and beyond, driving log trucks, tow trucks — anything that let him drive a truck! At one time, Tom had 36 devoted snowplow customers who rejoiced at the sight of his Ford F250 approaching their driveways (with Mo Kelley-Akker and his dog Buckeye alternately riding shotgun).
Tom was preceded in death by his parents; brothers James Bardin, Burl Bardin and John Bardin; and sister Connie Sue Tuhn. He was also predeceased by Rosalie Bardin Snyder (Anna Neff’s and Mark Bardin’s mother) and his beloved “Uncle Woody” Liston.
Tom is survived by his wife of 37 years, Marilyn Bardin of Twisp; son Mark Thomas Bardin (Jodie) of Streetsboro, Ohio; daughter Anna Christine Neff (Mark) of Stow, Ohio; granddaughters Lindsay Alene Neff of Cleveland, Ohio, and Ashley Elizabeth Vaughan (Steven) of Monroe Falls, Ohio; grandson Joshua Craig Bardin of Elyria, Ohio; and great-grandchildren Grayson Madden Vaughan and Genevieve Rose Vaughan, both of Monroe Falls, Ohio. Daughter-in-law Sally Bardin of Elyria, Ohio; sisters-in-law Becky Carey (Harold) of Concord, North Carolina; Elizabeth Bardin of Wickenburg, Arizona; Jan Bardin of Mesa, Arizona and Kay Darton (Larry) of Riverton, Utah. As well as many, many aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews across the country — Oklahoma, Arizona, California, Ohio, North and South Carolina, Colorado, Michigan, Utah, Florida, Maryland, West Virginia and Washington.
On Saturday, Nov. 10, a private family celebration was held and his ashes were released to flow down Gold Creek’s waters, and hopefully settled near the home where he and Marilyn spent so many wonderful years.
If you wish to make a donation in Tom’s memory, please consider Jamie’s Place, 109 Norfolk, Winthrop, WA 98862, where he will always be considered “family.”
