Thomas Wayne Binkley

Thomas Wayne Binkley died unexpectedly on October 4th, 2016 at his home in Burbank, California at the age of 66. Tom was the first son born to Mickey and Murrel Binkley in Ventura, California. He grew up in Burbank California, went to John Burroughs High School and continued to make his home there all his life.

Tom is survived by his mother Merle Maxine ‘Mickey’ Binkley, father Murrel Binkley, brother Stephen Binkley, sister Cheryl Binkley, sons Darrin Wayne Binkley and Lucas Anthony Binkley, their mothers Icey Myrtle Campbell and Greta Binkley, nephew Kincaid Binkley, daughter in law Beckie Binkley and his much loved grandchildren Trynity Katelyn Binkley, Jared Wayne Binkley and Ian Leroy Binkley. Tom was sadly preceded in death by his middle son Kevin Leroy Binkley two years ago.

Nothing meant more to Tom than family. He was a devoted son and loved his sons and grandchildren more than life itself. Tom was also a good true friend-a friend for life. Tom’s family members and many friends are shocked and saddened by his death. He will be missed by so many including lifelong childhood friends he grew up with in Burbank, friends he has met through personal and professional relationships along the years, neighbors from twenty five years living in the Rancho on Morningside Drive and most of the rest of his life on Mariposa Street, people who loved socializing with him at his favorite Burbank locales-Tally Rand and the Smokehouse- and members of his scuba diving community that he had grown so very fond of and connected to over the last twenty five years. They will all miss their ‘Captain Tom’.

Tom was a hard worker. He was proud to tell anyone who would listen that he started work sweeping up at the corner gas station at 9 years old. He worked a variety of jobs in his teens and early twenties learning a variety of skills and trades. Although he was good at everything he did, Tom felt like a ‘jack of all trades/master of none’ until he went to work for John Keefe Plumbing, passed all coursework and training and became a journeyman plumber in Local 78 Plumbers and Pipefitters Union. He also later pursued certification as an HVAC Technician which gave him skills in heating and air conditioning as well. Tom was such a conscientious and skilled craftsman that many of Keefe’s customers wanted only him to do work in their homes.

Although Tom’s vocation was plumbing, heating, air conditioning, his avocation and passion was being on and in the water. What started as a love for outdoors-camping, fishing, boating-became an obsession for scuba diving. Tom accomplished PADI Divemaster certification through Reefseekers Dive Company-Billy Wright, Ken Kurtis and John Lumb-faster than anyone had. He continued to dive whenever he could, became a well known figure in the Los Angeles area dive community. Tom also pursued his commercial Captains license since retiring from plumbing and had the absolute joy of being ‘Captain Tom’ on the Cee Ray with his dear friends Kim and Mike as well as earlier on the Great Escape and other boats.

There is no traditional funeral scheduled as that would not have been Tom’s wish. There will be a celebration of his birthday, his life and of the love we all felt for him and know he felt for us.

Please join his family at TALLY RAND RESTAURANT, NOVEMBER 19TH, 2016 2-4:30.

Come-raise a glass, tell a tale, laugh, hug and maybe shed a tear or two with us.

~The Binkley Family