Thomas Peregrine White was born to Richard Earl and Ann (Townsend) White Wood on February 1, 1963, in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

Thomas was brother to Ann Margaret, Richard Earl Jr., Ruth Rebecca, and Ellen Marie.

Tom was descended from and named for Peregrine White, first child born (1620) in the New World on the Mayflower to Pilgrims William and Susannah White.

Being an Army Brat during his father’s military career, Tom was born in Fort Leonard Wood Missouri and lived in Bad Tolz, Munich, and Bremerhaven Germany; Schilling Air Force Base Salina Kansas, and Hillsboro Oregon.

Tom lettered in Clackamas High School varsity soccer and played trumpet from grade school through high school. Tom graduated high school in 1981 and went on to attend UC San Diego in 1981 and 1982 on a soccer scholarship.

Following his time at university, Tom served in the US Navy on USS Fanning from 1982-1986 during the Gulf War. Tom was a boatswain Mate 2nd Class and was in the First Division. He played the Bos’un Pipe with the best of them. His crewmates said he was always upbeat and enthusiastic. His deployment in 1985 led him to Hawaii, Philippines, Singapore, The Maldives, Geraldton Australia, and back to San Diego in a 6 month period.

Tom was blessed with a son, Alden Matthew White, born on May 8, 1991.

Tom and Becki met on a dating app in 2013 and had their first date on Feb 20th 2013 in Salem, OR.   They dated continuously for years enjoying events around Portland, learning and growing from each other.

Tom and Becki were wed on September 9th 2017 in Oregon City and from that union, came a large blended family. Tom treated Becki’s family as his own.

Tom’s professional career started after the Navy with painting for a friend’s business.  He later opened up his self-owned business specializing in contracting.  If you needed work on your home… you’d call Tom.  He was your guy. Tom ran his own business “Tom’s Painting the Town” for 21 years, was a residential and commercial carpenter and painter. Beloved by his customers, many became personal friends.

Tom loved being a dad and grandpa. He was a soccer coach, archery coach, and hunting mentor to many.

He looked forward to hunting seasons and enjoyed any outdoor activity with his son Alden. Hunting and fishing with friends and family was Tom’s happy place. He loved to barbeque and cook for a crowd.

Tom loved bloodhounds and devoted much of his time to breeding and training his own dogs. He proudly volunteered in the service of bloodhound rescue groups. Tom volunteered with Clackamas County Search and Rescue.

Tom and Becki loved to spend time together traveling. Tom enjoyed the pursuit of the best places to enjoy the best spicy food and a good tequila.  He enjoyed his travels to Hawaii and created lasting memories for the family while there.  Spending an evening with Tom at his home with Becki would consist of really good bbq, sharing stories and laughter and of course a large bonfire.

He loved music and was a huge Ted Nugent fan. Tom was an adventurous eater and he loved hot peppers. He was a Detroit Red Wings fan. Above all, he loved just being a dad and grandpa and spending time with his family.

Tom will be remembered for being a very proud dad and a good man. It has been said that “Tom always did what needed to be done.” He was known as a peace keeper and would do anything to help everyone he loved feel supported and be happy.  He was an honorable man of strong morals, and he would want to be remembered as such. Tom would want to be remembered and celebrated for being the person who was known to always be by your side in your time of need or time of sorrow.

Tom was a kind, caring, giving man. If you were having a down-day, you could always rely on Tom to make you laugh. Tom made friends everywhere he went. He spent hours every week making phone calls to friends and family members. Tom always made the people around him feel loved and important.

If you ran into him, he’d ask if you had a minute to talk, you might part ways an hour later. Tom was a generous giver of huge bear hugs.

Tom’s most precious and cherished memory will always be the birth and raising of his son. Alden was Tom’s pride and joy.

Family members were asked to think of one word that comes to mind to describe Tom.

From his son Alden: “Dad”       From wife Becki “Joyful”    From brother-in-law: “Wildman”   From big sis: “Exuberant”    From baby sis: “Amazing”

Tom would want his family and friends who knew him to share stories, spend time laughing at all the memories while enjoying a big party.

Tom is predeceased by his parents, Richard Earl and Ann Townsend White Wood; and a nephew, Aaron Curtis Budnick White.

Tom is survived by his spouse Becki White; son, Alden Matthew White, and daughter-in-law Lily Blair White, and grandson Alden James “AJ” White; step-children: Justin and Alyssa Young, Jonathan and Courtney Reznick, Tyler and Jillian Young; step-grandchildren, Brayden, Connor, Jaxon, Lillie, Kennington, Lily, Luke, and Coltin. Tom is also survived by his siblings: Ann Margaret Rice (Michael Robert), Richard Earl White, Jr. (Kimberly Anne), Ruth Rebecca White, Ellen Marie White; nieces and nephews Kiley D’Lee White, Cameron Townsend White, Alysha Ann Marie Morrison, Cole Aaron Jeremiah Carson, and Ayla Marie Tobar.

Remembrances may be made to:

Clackamas County Peace Officers’ Benevolent Foundation

Committal Service with Military Honors will be held at Willamette National Cemetery, 11800 SE Mt Scott Blvd, Happy Valley, OR on Monday, September 16, 2024, 2:30 PM