Thomas Vander Woude

Thomas Steve Vander Woude passed away September 8, 2008. He was born April 24, 1942 in Sioux Falls, S.D. He was the son of William and Gwen Vander Woude, his sisters and brothers are Jim and Bill Vander Woude and Mary (Vander Woude) Oehlke. On December 26, 1964 he married Mary Ellen Earley. Mr. Vander Woude was a dedicated father and husband. Thomas and Mary Ellen raised seven sons, Tom, Steve, Dan, Bob, Chris, Pat and Joseph. He dedicated 17 years of service to his country as a pilot in the United States Navy and was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He retired in 2002 after twenty-six years as a commercial airline pilot. He coached all his sons in basketball of various levels, including elementary, high school, and college. From 2002 to 2007, he worked as Athletic Director/Coach at Christendom College in Front Royal, Virginia. He was a dedicated supporter/coach of Seton High School. A man of God imbued with his Catholic Faith, He served with his wife Mary Ellen as sacristans of Holy Trinity Catholic Parish in Gainesville, from 2001 to the present. Thomas was a loving and selfless husband, father and grandfather, he is survived by his wife, Mary Ellen, his seven sons and five daughters-in-law, Father Thomas P. Vander Woude, Steven and Erin Vander Woude, Dan and Maryan Vander Woude, Bob and Melissa Vander Woude, Chris and Katy Vander Woude, Pat and Jill Vander Woude, and Joseph Vander Woude, and twenty-four grand-children, Mary Kate, Tim, Bridget, Maggie, Tommy, Annie, Jack, Nick, Lilly, Johanna, Monica, Dominic, Daniel, Maria, Elena, Sean, Brendan, Joseph, Joshua, John Paul, Bobby, Michael, Luke and Philip. The family will receive friends on Sunday, September 14, 2008 from 2 to 4 and 7 to 10 p.m. at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 8213 Linton Hall Road, Gainesville, Va. where mass will be celebrated on Monday, September 15 at 10:30 a.m. Interment Quantico National Cemetery on Wednesday, September 17, 2008 at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, Mrs. Vander Woude would graciously accept donations to help defray expenses due to Tom's death, medical bills, and general support for herself or for Joseph, and if these needs are met, the rest would be given to a Catholic charity in honor of Tom. These gifts should be made payable to "The Tom Vander Woude Memorial Trust", and are not tax-deductible. These gifts may be sent to: P.O. Box 98, Nokesville, VA 20181. If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation in Tom's memory, we suggest that such be made payable to Holy Trinity parish, Seton High School, or Christendom College. These gifts may be sent to these organizations directly. Thank you for all of your help.

Thomas Vander Woude

April 24, 1942 - September 8, 2008