Thomas Vega

Thomas (Tom) Vega

October 18, 1956 – January 01, 2022

Thomas Vega, age 65, passed away on Saturday, January 01, 2022, at Tucson VA Medical Center. He was born in Tucson, Arizona on October 18, 1956, the first of nine children for parents Edilia (Garnica) Vega and Santos C. Vega.

Thomas, aka “Tom” to family and friends, is survived by his long time very special friend Ruby, five brothers and three sisters: Anthony (Sharon) Vega, Carlos Vega, Frank (Debbie) Vega, Vivian (Lorenzo) Rivera, Damien Vega, Eugene (Lupita) Vega, Monica (Joseph Jajack) Minjarez, and Vikki (Roberto) Cervantes; and his aunt/tia Josie Montano. He was also an uncle/tio to 23 nieces and nephews, and 25 great-nieces/nephews.

Tom grew up in Florence, Arizona, and graduated from Florence Union High School in 1975. Later he made “the Old Pueblo" (Tucson) his permanent home, when not away while in the military.

After graduating from high school, Tom joined the U.S. Army and proudly served his country for just over eleven years, reaching the rank of Sgt.  While in the army, he served as a Food Service Specialist and excelled in other areas including receiving a Mechanics Badge and achieving a M-16 Rifle (Sharpshooter) designation. After military service, Tom obtained a Commercial Driver’s License, driving delivery trucks for several businesses to customer destinations throughout southern Arizona.

It was in his early years that Tom began to develop marksmanship skills; target practicing often with his 22-caliber rifle in the rural areas surrounding his childhood home. In his youth Tom also enjoyed baseball, participating in Little League and countless sandlot games with neighborhood friends. Other early interests included motorcycle rides with his brothers, on extensive dirt bike trails near home, a love for science fiction and horror movies, and the history channel. There was also a passion for western wear that he maintained throughout his life.

In adulthood, “hard working” was a common phrase spoken by those who employed Tom, reflecting his work ethic formed from being the eldest, observing a father often working multiple jobs to provide for a growing family, and a loving mother who worked tirelessly and selflessly maintaining a sizable household.

Tom’s grandfather/tata Manuel, the last grandparent to precede him in death, was someone he admired deeply. Long weekend visits and summer vacations with his tata in Tucson were some of Tom’s fondest remembrances. Not surprisingly, like his tata, Tom was mechanically inclined, preferred working with his hands and on his feet, and was not one to be sitting behind a desk.

Tom you will be “Forever in our hearts and never forgotten.”

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