Thomas Baird McKenzie's Obituary
Thomas McKenzie, beloved husband, father and grandfather, passed away peacefully in Ramona, CA on July 5, 2024. He was born on October 19, 1941 in San Bernardino, CA, and was a lifelong San Bernardino resident. He was a great cook, a lifetime member of the NRA, and enjoyed trout and deep-sea fishing. He was an excellent Cribbage player teaching many but especially his grandsons the intricacies of the game. His favorite hobby was working on the lathe creating beautiful wooden pieces and discovering what beautiful designs and colors lived inside a piece of wood. He participated in a couple of shows each year and taught a few selected people including his grandsons the basics and how to achieve beautiful lathe work.
Tom graduated from Idaho State University in Pocatello with a Bachelor’s of Science in Pharmacy and worked as a Clinical Pharmacist at Redlands Community Hospital for 25 years. Although being sick for the last 4 years with various medical problems, he managed to keep his wonderful sense of humor, quick wit and ability to share information from his wide reading, watching documentaries, and willingness to learn from everyone. He is survived by his wife June of 53 years, son Thomas and wife Deanna and grandsons Ian and Patrick of Rohnert Park, CA, daughter Kathleen and husband Jim Thompson of Ramona, CA, sister Merry Amberg and husband Chuck, of Fort Collins, CO, nephews Greg (Marti) Amberg and Jeff (Laurie) Amberg, and five great-nieces and nephews.
In Lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate gifts to Redlands Community Hospital Foundation dedicated to continued development of their Radiology and Oncology programs. Services will be held July 23 at New Beginnings United Methodist Church at 785 N. Arrowhead Avenue in San Bernardino beginning at 10:00 with Internment at Riverside National Cemetery at 2:30.
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