Thomas Ralph Stumbaugh

Thomas Ralph Stumbaugh, 92, passed away on December 16, 2025, in Santa Cruz, California, one week shy of his 93rd birthday. Born on December 23, 1932, in Nampa, Idaho, he was the second of four boys born to Jessie Catherine Powell and Leslie Lee Stumbaugh. Tom lived a life marked by creativity, resilience, and dedication to both his family and his love of nature and beauty.

Tom and his three brothers sadly lost their mother in 1944. This took a great toll on their young lives. Leslie remarried and relocated the family to Spokane, Washington where Tom graduated from North Central High School in 1950. He began his college career at Eastern Washington University, before being drafted into the US Army in February of 1953 where he served with the signal corps. Tom was stationed on Eniwetok Atoll in the Marshall Islands and was one of the very few witnesses to the testing of the Hydrogen Bomb.

After his service to the country, Tom resumed his college career at Oregon State University where he earned his master's degree in Geography/Geology. Tom finished his college education while working on a PHD at the University of Kansas. He spent the summer of 1960 working as a park ranger at Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado. Tom was offered a teaching position at Watsonville High School where he taught Geography and counseled students from 1961-1979. His career in education left a lasting impact on many young lives. The next stop for Tom was Southern California where he worked at Carlsbad State Beach before re-relocating to Washington State. There, he continued his professional journey with the United States Forest Service until his retirement in 1997. The remainder of Tom's life was spent back in California with his family.

Tom was a man of remarkable artistic talent. Despite losing sight in his left eye at the age of five due to an accident, he developed a deep passion for the visual arts. He painted and sketched with precision and emotion, sculpted with wood and metal to create intricate forms, and found particular joy in working with stained glass-his favorite medium. His home and the homes of loved ones are adorned with pieces that reflect not only his skill but also his spirit and imagination. Tom found joy in building and creating many wonderful things. His hands were rarely idle; whether crafting something functional or purely beautiful, he approached each project with care and ingenuity.

Tom is remembered by those who knew him as a devoted father and grandfather. He is survived by his children, Eric Munro (Chris) of Novato, CA, Nancy Franich (John) of Aptos, and Sean Stumbaugh (Kristen) of Surprize, AZ; the mother of his children, Priscilla Stumbaugh of Watsonville; eight grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren, and one on the way. His legacy lives on through them-and through the many works of art he leaves behind. He is predeceased by his parents and three brothers, Lee, Wayne and Jerry.

May Tom's memory bring comfort to all who knew him and continue to inspire those who cherish the beauty he created during his long and meaningful life. A Celebration of Life will be held on February 22, 2026, from 03:00 PM to 06:00 PM at Bargetto Winery, 3535 North Main Street. Burial will take place in Nampa, Idaho at a later date where Tom's ashes will be placed with his mother's grave, a happy place for him to be!

Published in The Pajaronian · January 20, 2026