He is survived by Margaret Sawkins of San Gabriel, his beloved wife and best friend of 67 years, and their children: Douglas(Carolyn), Jim(Kim), Larry, Steve(Debbie), Vicki(Harry) , Lisa(Jim), Margaret(Steve), and Kevin(Danielle). He is also survived by their 14 grandchildren: Natalie, Greg, Andre, Katelyn, Hayden, Bryan, Ian, William, Allyson, Halley, Kenny, Sydney, Jimmy, and Ben. He has one great grandchild, Jayden, and two surviving brothers, David and William Louis.
Born in Glendale, California, on November 16, 1924, he and his family lived primarily in San Gabriel. His parents were William George Sawkins from Guildford, England, and Maybelle Guinney from Carthage, Missouri. In his youth he enjoyed different sports, favorites being tennis and bowling.
He served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Upon returning from Europe he enrolled in trade school in Los Angeles and became a television technician, later owning his own TV sales and service store in South Pasadena.
In 1970 he was elected president of the Pasadena chapter of the California State Electronics Association, or CSEA. This was a trade organization, a part of National Electronics Associations, Inc.
A member of San Gabriel Tennis Club, he participated in singles and doubles matches and tournaments. He also enjoyed coin collecting, poker, blackjack, fine-tuning his gambling system for craps, handicapping horse races, bowling, and golf. He would fish, preferring salt water over fresh water fishing. And when the mood struck him he would sing and play piano.
He loved his vacations with his wife and family to Vegas, Lake Tahoe, and the beach.
Thomas was a great man, although he would laugh if you called him that. He was wealthy in all things that matter, and was a source of wisdom, humor, and comfort to his family and friends.
He met the challenges of his life and the lives of his family with a calm and a certainty that few could duplicate.
He is deeply missed.
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