Thomas Paul Davis

Thomas Paul Davis was born October 13,1948, at the Naval Hospital in Balboa Park, San Diego, to Paul and Geraldine Davis. Raised in El Cajon, California and Bend, Oregon, he graduated from El Cajon Valley High School in 1966. Immediately after graduation, he followed in his dad’s footsteps and enlisted in the US Navy Seabees. He spent his entire tour of duty in Vietnam and Okinawa where he survived the Tet Offensive of 1968. He came home to social turmoil and worked odd jobs until 1976 when he was hired by the San Diego County Road Department, the same department that his dad was working as a County welder.

Tom spent 31 years with San Diego County, starting as a street sweeper, assigned to the Lemon Grove, Spring Valley field offices and worked the back country from Jamul to Jacumba. Halfway through, he figured he should start using his head instead of just his body. He began working on other assignments within the County’s structure and was eventually promoted to an administrative position overseeing the entire road maintenance department, until retirement in 2008.

He spent many hours volunteering in Mt. Laguna helping to design and maintain mountain trails. Spent similar hours along the San Diego River. He accomplished a retirement goal of publishing a book about the Colorado River, where he spent many hours camping and fishing with his dad and brother. He enjoyed playing basketball and senior softball, camping, and hiking in the desert (the desert was his church), collecting cacti and succulents.

Married twice. Survived by sister Virginia (Ginger) and brother Robin (Teddy), step-brother Vince Garcia, step-sister Florence Wells, one niece and two nephews, Kimberly, Scott, and Benjamin. Blessed with two Best Men; Stevie and Second-Best Billy, long-time friends Terry and Alan James, (like second brothers to me and my brother), and scores of friends.

Burial at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery alongside his wife Julie Davis, is tentatively planned for October 13, his birthday. Celebration of Life thereafter, 1:00pm at Junction Sports Bar, 777 Jamacha Road, El Cajon. RSVP [email protected]. His wishes were in lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Disabled American Veterans, www.dav.org and/or to the Laguna Mountain Volunteers’ Association, www.lagunamtnvol.org. You are invited to visit his “Guest Book” to leave memories at www.elcajonmortuary.com, click on Recent Obituaries and enter Thomas Paul Davis.

Thomas Paul Davis, age 76, of Santee, California passed away on Sunday, August 24, 2025.

A committal service for Thomas will be held Monday, October 13, 2025 from 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, 1700 Cabrillo Memorial Dr, San Diego, CA 92106.