Tommie Wayne "Tom" Walden

Tommie Wayne “Tom” Walden, 74, passed away April 12, 2025, in Safety Harbor, Florida, after a brief illness. Tom was born in Tompkinsville, KY, on August 25,1950 to Nina Ellen Davis and Buford Evans Walden. His family moved to Carmel, Indiana in 1960, graduated from Carmel High School in 1970, and married his high school sweetheart Christie Pierce (Christina Lynne) October 3, 1970. They were married 54 years. Tom lived in Carmel until 2018 when he moved to Westfield.

Tom worked for General Motors (Detroit Diesel Allison and Allison Transmission), in Speedway, as an inspector and metallurgist, retiring in 2004, after 31 years of service. In his high school years, he worked part time with a local home builder, where he learned invaluable building and carpentry skills which he used his whole lifetime.

His family was the most important thing in the world to him, married to Christie right after high school, dad to Bryan and Mark and Grandpa Tom to Leo and Max.

In addition to his parents, Tom was preceded in death by his stepfather Charles Miller of Carmel, and his sister Janet Carol Adams.

He is survived by his wife, Christina Walden, sons Bryan Matthew (Jennifer), of Portland, Oregon, Mark Jason (Christina Mast) of Indianapolis, his brother Stanley Walden (Debbie) of Palm Harbor, Florida. Bryan and Jenni's boys, Leo Joseph and Max Emerson were the light of his life in addition to his sons, and they loved their Grandpa Tom fiercely.

In addition, he is survived by brothers-in-law, Donald Pierce (Ruth), Michael Pierce (Denise), nephews Donald Pierce Jr, Billy Pierce (Melanie), Barry Pierce (Kris), David Pierce (Katrina), Mike Walden (Kathy), Kevin Walden (Pam), Mike Adams Jr, nieces Carol Sue “Susie” McCoun (Dave), Diana Jo Hopkins (Jeff), Dana Pierce Mennen (Mark) and many beloved great-nieces and nephews.

He was blessed with an incredible intellectual curiosity to know how things work, and how to fix things, never taking no for an answer to figuring it out. Later in life he was a creative painter and student of Bob Ross, painting beautiful ocean and nature scenes. His hobbies were golf, bowling, was a huge Purdue fan, loved music including learning to play multiple saxophones later in life. His musical interests were varied from country to blues to classic rock and modern jazz. In his younger days, he loved working on cars and spent a lot of time passing on that knowledge and tenacity to his boys.

Tom and Chris spent the last ten winters as snowbirds in Palm Harbor, Florida, enjoying the respite from central Indiana temps, spending time with Stan and Debbie and welcoming family members to visit.

Please feel free to join us on Saturday, April 26th to celebrate Tom's life, to love on his family and remember the good times. Visitation hours 10 am - noon, followed by a service at 12:00 pm. Interment follows at Carmel Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Tom's name are suggested to Wheeler Mission: 205 East New York Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204 .

Online condolences for Tom are available at www.leppertmortuary.com