Thomas David Sloan

Thomas David Sloan was born in Sacramento on September 1, 1948, and
unexpectedly passed away on May 1, 2023. He is preceded in death by his
parents Kenneth Sloan and Virginia Larue Sloan and brother Gary Sloan.

Tom is survived by his wife Valerie Buell Sloan and daughters Lisa Sloan
Brownell (Matthew), Kimberly Sloan, and grandchildren Quintten and Clarity
Brownell. Sibling survivors are Bradley Sloan and Theresa Sloan Kersey
(James). Other survivors include cousins Robert Sloan and David Scheuner,
nephews Eric, Matthew, Aaron, Nathan, and Kenneth Sloan, James and Michael
Kersey, niece Rachel Goff, and in-laws Reid Buell and Diane Carlson.

Tom was raised on a pear ranch in Camino, California. At age thirteen his family
moved to Carmichael, California. Tom was always hardworking, determined, and
a multi-talented person. Tom loved sports and the outdoors and earned the rank
of Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts of America. He played football for La Sierra
High School and sang and played guitar for the worship team at Carmichael
Presbyterian Church. After high school, Tom studied at American River College
and CSU, Sacramento graduating with a Bachelor of Science Degree in
Business Administration (Personnel Management).

Tom and Valerie met during their college years and married in January 1974.
Tom enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve in 1979. By 1984 Tom had
attended the Coast Guard Officers Candidate School and was commissioned as
an Ensign. He was the first reserve officer assigned to the Marine Security
Operations after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake and was on temporary active
duty (stateside) during the Persian Gulf War. He completed training at the Naval
War College in Rhode Island in 1999. Tom served 22 proud years in the Coast
Guard retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Commander.

In his civilian career, Tom was the Manager of the Campus Commons Park
Corporation, CEO of the Yolo County YMCA, and worked for the State of
California for 29 years. In his State service, he worked for the California
Conservation Corps, the Department of Health Services, and finally as a Senior
Information Systems Analyst for the Department of General Services. To
enhance his career, he earned a Graduate Management Certificate from UC
Davis and a master’s degree in IT Engineering from American Intercontinental
University. Amidst being a working professional, Tom juggled family
responsibilities like dance performances, coaching soccer, attending water polo
games, and more for his daughters Lisa and Kim.

After retiring, Tom became a USDA-CCOF organic farmer on his boyhood family
ranch existing for four generations. He launched Sloan Winters Mountain
Orchard and Garden, and he became an active member of the Apple Hill
Growers Association where he accepted a position on the Board of Directors.

Tom spent long hours planting and tending to apple, pear, and plum trees and
growing produce that he and Valerie sold during the Apple Hill season. Tom
became known for leading an educational farm tour for school groups and
tourists—pulling the hay wagon full of ranch visitors. His tours focused on the
challenges and science of farming, his love for the area, and its history, and he
even infused useful culinary tips.

Also, during these same retirement years, he put his design and carpentry skills
to work by buying and flipping a home in Pollock Pines. He updated and
renovated his childhood home that his great-grandfather built in the early 1900s.
Tom then added Superhost to his resume in 2017 when the home became an
Airbnb.

Travels near and far were another passion and accomplishment. Especially
meaningful to Tom were short-term mission trips with Fair Oaks Church. The first
was Rancho Santa Marta, Mexico helping with construction efforts at an
orphanage in 2015. The following year, Tom and Valerie joined the Russian
Mission Team to help with children’s recreational tasks while their parents
attended a marriage seminar, and they experienced hospitality in three areas of
Russia.

Back at home, Tom loved being a father and grandfather. Most recently he
enjoyed jaunts with the grandchildren to the farm for tractor rides, museums,
parks, playgrounds, zoos, and the occasional sleepover. Just as endearing as
the active play were the quiet moments cuddling, talking, reading, and giggling
with them.

The Celebration of Life service for Tom Sloan will be on Friday, May 26 at 11:00
a.m. The service will be at Wells Chapel at Fair Oaks Church at 11427 Fair Oaks
Blvd., Fair Oaks, CA 95628. His Coast Guard veteran’s burial will be at 11:30
a.m. on Tuesday, May 30 at Sacramento Valley National Cemetery at 5810
Midway Rd, Dixon, CA 95620.

In lieu of flowers, you may donate in Tom’s name to the Orangevale - Fair Oaks
Food Bank or the Mission Department at Fair Oaks Church.