Thomas Wayne Crossley

Born: October 12, 1940

Home with the Lord: March 24, 2024

Tom Crossley was born October 12, 1940, to Richard and Harriett, aka Betty Crossley in Indiana, the second of three sons. He had an older brother Richard Jr who passed away in July 2023, and a younger brother James. The family moved to Oklahoma for a couple of years in the late 1940s, then settled in Garden Grove, California. Tom attended elementary and junior and high school there, graduating in the late 1950s from Garden Grove High School. After graduation, he attended Orange Coast College. He worked in the construction industry and became a licensed journeyman land surveyor with the Operating Engineers Union. He worked on many large government projects in California and at the Atomic Energy Test Site in Nevada. He retired with a pension from the Operating Engineers Union.

Tom married Ann Marie in the early 1960s. They had three children, Thomas, Timothy and Teresa. Sadly, all three preceded Tom in death. After several years, Tom and Ann Marie divorced.

Tom met and married Jill in the early 1970s. The two were married by Pastor Chuck Smith, leader of the Jesus Freaks Movement of Calvary Chapel. They had their wedding ceremony in the original Army Tent in a field in Costa Mesa, where Calvary Chapel started. Tom was baptized by Pastor Chuck Smith in the Pacific Ocean. Tom provided survey work for the original Calvary Chapel Church Campus. Tom and Jill divorced a few years later.

During a Billy Graham Crusade in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 1978 Tom rededicated his life to Jesus Christ. This was another example of his love for Jesus.

In the late 1970s, Tom married Diane. They had been married for about 20 years and had no children. They subsequently divorced but remained friends.

Tom had a passion for aviation. He could be considered a genius in his understanding of how things work together. He even began building an airplane in his living room in Westminster, California. Though the project was never completed, it served to remind all of us of his brilliance and creative mind.

Tom also enjoyed fast race cars. He modified several cars and raced them at local tracks, holding several local records. His genius became apparent as he tinkered with engines and body designs. Motorcycles were another interest Tom was extremely invested in. From riding to building and salvaging old motorcycles, Tom created quite a collection.

In addition to his amazing engineering talents, he was a self-taught guitar player. He was so good, the community college nearby offered him a job, where he taught guitar lessons.

His last two years were spent recovering in medical facilities from life threatening injuries due to an unprovoked physical assault. Through it all, he was strong and determined to get healthy again. He was inspiring to many who got to know him. His legacy and the stories of his many off-the-wall adventures continue to warm our hearts and keep him close to us. We thank God for his influence in our lives and will miss him dearly.