Thomas Graham

Thomas “Tom” Graham, 78, of Kirkland, Washington, passed away on January 24, 2026. Tom was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and friend and will always be remembered for his generous spirit and love of family.

Tom was born on November 6, 1947, in Hyde, England, to Emily and Stanley Graham. He was the eldest of four siblings: his brother Bob, and sisters Ann and Norma. He was a Sunday school teacher at Hyde Chapel where he would later marry his loving wife, Marilyn.

Tom graduated from Greenfield Street Secondary School in 1963 and began working at Hawker Siddeley Aviation in Manchester where he entered their apprentice training school. He continued his education at Cranfield Institute of Technology in The College of Aeronautics and graduated in 1975 with a Degree of Master of Science in Aircraft Design. While at Hawker Siddeley, Tom met Marilyn and they married in 1968. His career in aeronautical engineering took him and his growing family on adventures across the world with work in Quebec, Washington, Louisiana, and finally back to Washington where he and Marilyn settled in Kirkland and raised their three children, Steven, Sharon, and Sarah.

Tom embraced every opportunity to travel. He and Marilyn especially cherished their extended stays in Fort Lauderdale, along with many cruises and trips back to England to visit family and friends.

Family was at the center of Tom’s life especially when it came to being a grandfather. He rarely missed an opportunity to cheer on his grandchildren at sporting events, concerts, and performances. Tom was an enthusiastic supporter of his eldest granddaughter, Keira, creating “Clan Graham” to sponsor her sprint car. Her car proudly displays the “Clan Graham” logo featuring a Scotsman wearing the Graham tartan.

Years after coaching his son Steven’s youth soccer team, one of his greatest joys was watching Steven coach his grandsons, Garrett and Bennett, carrying on the love of the game. Tom rarely missed a game and was even fond of watching practices as well. Tom was a loyal supporter of his home football club, Manchester City and could often be found cheering for them from across the Atlantic.

More than anything, Tom treasured bringing his family together. Whether it be a birthday, holiday, a family vacation, or just a beautiful summer day, Tom most wanted to see his family spending time together. One of Tom’s favorite traditions was attending the Argosy Christmas Ship Festival, a celebration that spanned 20 years and created treasured memories for multiple generations.

Tom had a remarkable way of reminding those he loved that they were never far from his thoughts. Whether it was a quick text message to check in, a funny joke shared out of the blue, or a thoughtful phone call, he made family and friends feel connected, cared for, and loved. His absence is felt deeply however he will forever be in our thoughts.

Tom is survived by his wife of 57 years, Marilyn; his three children, Steven (Erica), Sharon (Kurt), and Sarah (Jeremy); and his six grandchildren, Keira (Caden), Karmin, Kilee, Mallory, Bennett, and Garrett. He is also survived by his brother Bob and two sisters Anne and Norma.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 2pm on June 26th at Acacia Funeral Home, 14951 Bothell Way NE, Seattle.