London. He graduated from Lincoln Consolidated High School in 1961. After high school,
Tom attended Eastern Michigan University where he joined the Army ROTC program. Tom
graduated from EMU with a Bachelor’s degree in history. After graduation he was
deployed to Germany and later proudly served in Vietnam. He achieved the rank of Captain
and was awarded the Bronze Star. After returning home from Vietnam, Tom resumed his
favorite hobbies, like writing, playing bingo, and socializing with friends and family. In
2016, Tom moved to Visalia, California to be near family and for health reasons. He is
survived by his sister, Leonore (Myron) J. Moyer of Visalia, California; brother, David
(Manette) G. London, of Greenville, South Carolina; niece, Cathy (Terry) Duncil of Lemoore,
California; nephew, Eric (Shelia) London of Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan; nephew Thom
(Sonya) Dew, of Canton, Michigan; and niece, Allison (Kyle) Safford of Greenville, South
Carolina. While we think of life's greatest blessings, that is family, Tom was able to meet his
great nephews, as well as meet his great, great nieces before his passing. He was
surrounded by family, and truly experienced life to the fullest. He is preceded in death by
his parents, George and Violet London and brother-in-law, Myron Moyer.
Tom was a proud and determined man. His family reflects on the U.S. Army motto “Army
Strong” as it still rings true with Tom and how he was throughout his lifetime. There were
no things that were done halfway, and nothing could never not be done. Bold and well
articulated about his thoughts and his writing abilities, Tom valued philosophical
conversations with his close friends at the Washtenaw Dairy. He enjoyed chatting with
those he met at the coffee shop he frequented in Visalia as well. It’s safe to say that coffee
and conversion took on a whole new meaning with Tom. No one was a stranger to him.
Tom’s careers were varied but all included contact with people. Tom enjoyed arranging
promotional events for Arborland Mall, conversing with others as he drove them in his taxi
in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, Michigan. He also owned his own piano moving business. His
family also recalls him proudly writing his personal newspaper “Did You Know?”. He
would pay his niece and nephews a penny for each paper they delivered properly (facing
the reader when they opened the door) at every doorstep. Though it was chilly some days
(that’s putting it lightly as we think of Michigan winters), those memories are what we like
to hold close to our hearts.
Tom’s family would like to hear the fond memories you have of him. Please hold those
special moments in your heart as you think of Tom.
There will be no formal services held in Visalia. Tom will be laid to rest at Marble Park Cemetery in Milan, Michigan at a later date.
