Vancouver, WA - Thomas (Tom) Wyman, 73, loving husband, dad and granddad, weekend softball player, pretty good golfer, rose-growing enthusiast, history and alternative music buff, traveler, lover of a long walk with a very good dog, steadfast friend, champion of special education students and mentor to many educators, passed away May 28 at his Vancouver home.

Born to Marianne and Harold Wyman at St. Elizabeth Hospital, Tom grew up at 32nd and Lincoln. He attended St. Paul's and Central Catholic and was, variously, an altar server, paper carrier, spelling bee champ, class officer and Eagle Scout. Tom was student body president and Student of the Year (71-72) at Yakima Community College. He graduated with honors in education from Central Washington University while juggling full-time jobs as a service station attendant and tire guy. He completed an Accounting degree and a MA in Educational Administration at CWU while coaching and teaching, first at St. Joseph/Marquette and then Selah Middle School, where he was also Athletic/Activities Director. Committed to employee rights, Tom served for many years on the Selah Education Association's Executive Council. At East Valley School District, he was Middle School Assistant Principal and then led planning for construction of East Valley Intermediate School, serving as Principal there until becoming district Special Programs Director. In 2004, Tom was named Special Education Director for the Kelso School District where he was Administrator of the Year (2007-08) and Chair of ESD 112's Special Education Directors. He subsequently established a statewide consulting practice focusing on special education before retiring in 2020.

Tom married Kathy O'Meara in 1979, and their son Patrick was born in 1985. For the past two decades, he and Kathy split time between Vancouver and Yakima, traveled well and widely, and golfed many signature courses. He loved his wood-cutting and golf buddies and thirty-five years of Lake Chelan softball and golf trips with the gang. He treasured his family, the Oregon Coast, an expertly lit roaring fire, a well-stocked hardware supplier, his carefully tended roses, a great bookstore and a succession of good and loyal dogs. Tom was kind, hardworking, and strongly committed to doing things the right way. Above all, he was a champion for those who weren't able to advocate for themselves.

He was preceded in death by his younger son, Connor, his parents and his brother Bill. Tom is survived by wife Kathy of Vancouver; son Patrick, wife Arden, and grandchildren Ames and Ellis Wyman of Phoenix; brother, Mike (Carol) Wyman of Spokane; and Wyman and Uhlmeyer nephews and nieces and their families.

Burial will be Friday, June 13 at Calvary Cemetery, 2 pm, with the Mass of Christian Burial on Saturday, June 14, 11 am, at St. Paul's Cathedral Chapel, Yakima, with a gathering to follow. Weekly blood transfusions sustained Tom for several years: Please consider making regular blood donations in his memory. Donations may also be made in his name to the Mayo Clinic for myelofibrosis research and treatment.