Thomas R. Waddell

Thomas “Tom” Ramon Waddell (79), passed away on November 29, 2020. Tom is survived by his wife of 43 years, Elvira Waddell, as well as his 4 remaining siblings: Irma Mendoza, Eugene Waddell, Gloria Hurtado and Eva Hurtado, and 7 children: Tom A. Waddell, Daniel “Danny” Waddell, Theresa “Terri” Waddell-Motter, Doreen Waddell-Sweiss, Jessica Waddell, Dion Waddell and Anthony “Hondo” Waddell.

Tom was born on September 5, 1941 in Tolleson, Arizona, and was raised in a life of farming on his father’s farm in Arrowhead Ranch. He went on to create his own farming business called Tom Waddell Farms, growing as large as 10,000 acres with over 300 employees and 2 full-time packing sheds. He began growing cotton in the early 1960’s and expanded into produce and feed over the next 60 years working along with his father Tom Sr. and brother Eugene, as well as the help from almost every other family member at one time or another through the decades. Along with farming, Thomas built many successful businesses in the Valley, some including Waddell General Partnership, Navajo Marketing and Navajo Pump and Supply which he ran with his friend Roy Plumlee.

Tom was also involved in many ventures in his life outside of farming. He was the chairman of the Maricopa and Lake Pleasant Water Districts, advising member of the Department of Agriculture and a Foreign Agricultural Advisor for many countries on behalf of the US government. Tom was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather who will be dearly missed. Services will be held Friday, December 11, 2020 at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Avondale, AZ at 10:00 AM.