Thomas Frederick Walch Jr.

Thomas Frederick Walch, Jr., passed away on June 25, 2022 after a lengthy illness. He was born on November 11, 1934, in Hastings, Nebraska, to Thomas Frederick Walch, Sr., and Blanche Cleveland Walch. He was the oldest of 4 children.

In 1938, the family moved from Hastings to Sedalia, Missouri. Tom attended Mark Twain Elementary school and later graduated from Smith-Cotton High School. During his high school years Tom worked part-time for Yancey’s Pastry Shop and for the Taystee Bread Company. After graduation from Smith Cotton, he joined the United States Marine Corps during the Korean era. After his discharge, he attended the University of Central Missouri, earning a Bachelor’s degree. He later earned a Master’s degree from Southwest Texas State University. Tom married his first wife Mary Young, with whom he had three children, David, Daniel, and Jason. He taught for a time in the public school setting, after which he went to work for the Centers for Disease Control as a Public Health Advisor. One of the highlights of his career with the CDC was the three years he spent working at the Mama Yemo Hospital in Kinshasa, the Republic of Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo). He was the Project Manager for Projet SIDA (the AIDS Project). He enjoyed learning about the people of Zaire and their culture. He also picked up a smattering of French. He and Mary went on safari, and vacationed in South Africa. He spoke often of his adventures in Zaire (including witnessing a revolution from his balcony), and expressed a desire to return, which, sadly, never occurred. He retired from the CDC after 30 years, and went to work for the Texas Department of Health in Austin. Mary passed a short time later after a lengthy illness.

It was through his work for the Texas Department of Health that he met his wife Dr. Martha Schramm. Later he worked for the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District, and he and Martha were married in 1998 in Wimberley.

Tom loved working with his hands, in projects big and small, and in between. He built a deck and a tool shed, and re-enclosed the patio into a beautiful sunroom. He was always assisted by his “supervisor” Martha. He also became engrossed in building highly detailed model planes and ships (the Cutty Sark, the Bluenose). He also enjoyed working in the yard, producing beautiful landscapes.

Tom enjoyed attending various musical events with Martha, including San Antonio Pops concerts and Broadway musicals. The Botanical Gardens and the San Antonio Museum of Art were also favorites. They took hot air balloon rides over Napa, and glider planes in West Texas. He also indulged Martha’s occasional shopping trips to Boerne and Fredericksburg. He was also the proud owner of a ’68 Chevy Chevelle Malibu.

And then there are the pets, but especially the dachshunds. There were many (Susy, Merlin, Sherman, Rocky, and one Boston Terrier Otto) and their deaths affected him deeply. The same could be said about several adopted cats (Rogue, Atticus, Mick).

He is preceded in death by his parents, his first wife Mary, and his sister Camilla. Tom is survived by his loving wife Martha; sons David, Daniel, and Jason (Nina); grandchildren Jesse Thomas, Elliot Mullis, Livingstone True, Jordan Thomas, Joshua Gabriel Thomas, and Naiyah Victoria Grace; twin brothers Robert (Sarah) and John (Glenna); and beloved dachshund Princess Daisy.

Thank you to the staff at Arden Courts, to Tammy with Axiom Hospice, and to Dr. Kelly Cowan for the warm and loving care they provided.

At Tom’s request, no services are planned. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a charitable contribution to The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration (theaftd.org), or Diamond Dachshund Rescue of Texas (ddrtx.org).

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared below for the Walch family.