Thomas Lee Stahl

Thomas Lee Stahl was born June 6, 1936, in Dinuba, CA to Zack and Annie Stahl. Tommy was the fourth of five sons and one daughter. He attended Grand View Elementary through the eighth grade and then attended and graduated from Dinuba High School in 1954. In high school he was involved in football, basketball, and track and field. After high school he attended Reedley College graduating in 1956 and then Fresno State graduating in 1958, majoring in Secondary Education. Immediately after graduating he joined the United States Army where he served as a medic until 1961.

Tom started his 35-year teaching career in the Fall of 1961 at Redwood High School, teaching in the Social Studies Department, coaching freshman football, and track and field. In 1965, he became the head track and field coach for over 20 years. In 1961 he was introduced to Judy Estes, a Visalia school teacher, on a blind date set up by Judy’s brother-in-law, Bob Donald, and the rest in history. The couple was wed on June 10, 1962 and were married for 62 and a half years. In 1964 their first child, Diane, was born and three years later in 1967, their twin sons, Brent and Kent, were born.

Tom was raised in a Christian home and accepted Christ as his Savior at the age of 14. Tom, Judy, and their family attended First Baptist Church, now Gateway Church, from the beginning of their life together until Tom went to be with the Lord on December 26, 2024. He served at Gateway Church in many capacities over the past 62 years. Tom was also involved in the Breakfast and Lunch Optimist Clubs who served the youth of Visalia.

Tom was intricately involved in seeing his children do well in school, excel in sports and music, graduate from college, and become successful, loving adults. He was also so grateful that all of them and their children love the Lord.

Tom and Judy loved to travel with their children, camping all over the United States and Canada. The ocean and mountains were enjoyed by everyone. The highlight of their family vacations was their first Olympics in Montreal in 1976. They had a wonderful time there and were gone 74 days and traveled 13,000 miles. They also attended the Olympics in Los Angeles, Atlanta, and the Winter games in Salt Lake City. After retiring in 1996, they enjoyed trips to Europe, Hawaii, and a few cruises. The highlight of all their years of travel was their trip to Israel where they were able to walk where their Savior, Jesus, walked.

The Lord, his family, track and field, and reading were Tom’s greatest joys. Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Zack and Annie Stahl, his four brothers and their spouses, Waldo and Karen Stahl, Don and Esther Stahl, Charlie Stahl, and Cliff and Bonnie Stahl. He is survived by his wife, Judy Stahl, children Diane (Alex) Garcia, Brent (Monica) Stahl, Kent (Cassandra) Stahl, grandchildren Andy Garcia, Marie (Brandon) Hensley, Jean-Beny Stahl, Solomon Stahl, Lizzie Garcia, Elijah Stahl, Grace Stahl, Bendjina Stahl, Bendjy Stahl, great-grandsons Brandon Hensley Jr., Gabriel Hensley, Daniel Hensley, sister, Violet Payette, sister-in-law, Cheryl Stahl, brother-in-law and sister-in-law John and Donna Estes, and numerous beloved nieces and nephews. We will miss you, but we know we’ll see you soon.