Thomas William Michael

Thomas William Michael of Portland, Oregon, passed away early Monday morning, April 16, 2012 of heart failure. “T.W.” or “Tom”, as many knew him, the middle child of Hugh Waldo Michael and Virgie May Bertrand Michael, began his earthly sojourn in Abilene, Texas. As a trucker, he drove many a highway, enjoyed many a scenic view, and negotiated many a traffic jam in getting products and produce to people across the country. His sojourn included serving in the Navy in the Pacific theatre of WW II, a stint working on the railroad and then 18-wheeling for several decades. He enjoyed historical novels as well as inspirational books and TV programs. Shortly before his passing, he finished reading the true life account of a pastor who died but who came back to life, the title: 90-minutes in Heaven. T.W. liked discussing the book and his readiness to be with Jesus, his Savior, with whom he had a spiritual encounter in 1965. The results from this engagement led to some significant changes, a confidence about heaven, and a listening ministry that included other truckers as well as employees and managers of truck stops around the US.

Tom is survived by his wife, B. Ruth Parker Michael and their two sons, Don Richard Michael, Sr. and Randolph Michael; his two siblings, M. Jane Michael Garnett and Deryl Douglas Michael; eleven grandchildren—Gary Michael, Shannon Michael, Kimberli Michael, Elizabeth Ann Michael Harding, Sara Jeanne Michael Pecknold, Scott Michael, Don Richard Michael, Jr., Dawn Rachelle Michael, Deana Williams, Lanae Cockrill, and Amy Grimm; thirty-four great grandchildren and four great great grandchildren.

Tom, “knowing no stranger”, had friends in the many places he called home, including especially Upland and Bakersfield, California as well as Parkview Retirement Center, Portland, Oregon.

A memorial service will be held at 10:30am, Monday, April 30, 2012 at Gateway Little Chapel of the Chimes, 1515 NE 106th Ave. (106th Ave. and Halsey Blvd.), Portland, Oregon 97220. Internment with Military Honors will be at Willamette National Cemetery, 12 noon.

If you wish to share a memory, condolences, or words of encouragement, you may visit the website and follow the link for Thomas William Michael: http://www.gatewaylittlechapel.com

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his honor may be made to one of the ministries in which Tom took interest and for which he prayed: TELOS international, inc., P.O. Box 23292, Portland, OR 97281-3292.