Thomas Jordan Zumwalt

Zumwalt, Thomas Jordan, age 79 of Huntington Beach, California passed away on September 8, 2021 of Lung Cancer. He kept his battle with lung cancer silent whether he knew or didn’t know and in the end he and his family suffered the acute effects of the disease for only 6 days as he quickly passed.

Thomas, known to all his friends and family as just Tom, was born in Long Beach, California on August 23, 1942 to his loving parents Mary Diane and Thomas J Zumwalt. Tom resided in Huntington Beach, California for most his life and that’s where he called home. He spent 30 plus years in the Marine industry starting out as a welder, machinist, deckhand and eventually became a tugboat owner/operator in the Port of LA. After leaving the marine industry he enjoyed 25 years in the antiques and estate sale business. He had a keen eye for true treasures that told a story. He loved a good historical story about the antiques he dealt with, including the lives and owners of the treasures he was entrusted to.

In his younger years, Tom put his machinist and welding skills to good use building demolition derby cars, participating in the top Derby contests in the US & Canada. He won many trophies smashing up cars alongside his brothers Tim and Bob. His reputation in the demolition derby circuit at ASCOT raceway landed him and his brother Tim a role in the 1974 movie Gone In 60 Seconds. Tom was also known for his salsa garden. He loved fresh salsa and he had the green thumb to grow everything he needed. His all-time favorite thing to do though was watch football (lighting fireworks ran a close 2nd) – whether it was watching NFL and College football on TV or rooting from the sidelines while watching his son and grandsons playing high school, and college football, and even professionally in the World League and NFL. He was a dedicated football fan and loved to talk football with anyone interested.

Tom is survived by his wife Judith Anne, whom he was married to for 46 years and his three children, Richard, Rebecca, and Amanda; and his eight grandchildren, Deidre, Jordan, Erick, Olivia, Maxwell, Lucas, Sierra and Tyler; and his three, almost four great grandchildren, Brody, Delilah, Daisy and soon to be Emery. He is also survived by his two brothers, Timothy Zumwalt and Robert Zumwalt. He joins his parents Mary Diane and Thomas J and his brother Daniel in heaven. We expect they are fishing, picking weeds, and enjoying root beer floats, keeping an ever-watchful eye on those of us still living.

In honor of Tom’s life, we will have his Memorial Service at Westminster Memorial Park, 14801 Beach Blvd., Westminster, CA 92683, (714) 893-2421 on September 30, 2021 at 2:30PM. A graveside procession will follow the service directly.