Obituary: Arthur F.W. Thoms

 Arthur F.W. Thoms VERO BEACH, Fla. – Arthur F.W. Thoms, fondly known as Tom or Tommy, passed away in Vero Beach, Florida, on Nov. 11, 2025 at his apartment in The Brennity of Vero Beach. He was born on Aug. 24, 1934, in Denver, Colorado, to his parents, Arthur C. Thoms and Alma Heyne Thoms. Tommy joined his sister Joan Thoms in the family. Tommy attended St. John Lutheran School through ninth grade and graduated from South High School in 1952. From a young age, he was known by the name “Tommy”, a nickname given by his mother, a talented soprano who loved to sing the song, “Tommy Lad” by E. J. Margetson. Later, he shortened his nickname to “Tom”, though both names followed him through colleger at Valparaiso University. Only when he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1956 did he begin to go by his given name, Arthur. With the encouragement of his sister, Tom reluctantly took a typing class at South High – a decision that would prove to shape he course of his life. Because of his typing skills, when he joined the Army, he was sent to Clerk Typist training and served two productive years – one at Ft. Bliss Base, where he worked on the base newspaper, and another in Germany as a typist in a security agency. He served through 1958. After his military service, Tom enrolled at the University of Denver to pursue a Masters Degree in English. However, his plans changed when he was invited to Washington, D.C., for an interview with the C.I.A. He accepted the position, much to the dismay of his father, who believed no one should ever want to leave Colorado and the Rockies. But Washington would change Tom’s life – it was there that he met the love of his life, Enid Mary Marshall of Maine. There were married in Arlington, Va., on Dec. 3, 1962, beginning a partnership that would last for 62 yearrs until Enid’s death on Sept. 27, 2024. Tom and Enid’s life together was full and rich. They spent two years in Saigon, followed by 20 years teaching and operating their small business, Seacoast Electronics, in Maine. Later, they spent 10 years working in energy – efficient home construction and life insurance with Lutheran Brotherhood in Citrus County, Florida. Around 2005, they retired and divided their time between Kennebunk, and Citrus County, Amelia Island, Ocala, and Vero Beach, Fla., where they last resided. Enid sold her ancestral home on Summer Street in Kennebunk in 2018 and then they were full time Florida residents. Tom often spoke of the strong Christian faith instilled in him by his parents, devoted Lutherans who raised him to know and love Jesus Christ. He accepted Jesus Christ, as his Lord and Savior and lived his life with that faith at the center. He looked forward to reuniting with Enid in heaven. Together, Art (as he was called by his Florida friends) and Enid shared worship and choir together. Art had a great tenor/bass voice and Enid had an amazing alto voice. In addition to church choirs, they sang with their Ocala community choir for many concerts. He also served St. Timothy ELCA church in Crystal River, Fla., on church council as president, and as chancel choir director for several years. They made friends wherever they lived. And at Art’s last residence in Vero Beach, it was his bible study and luncheon friends who missed him the most. Arthur is survived by his niece, Carol Engebretson and her family of Merrill, Wis., nephew Gary A. McBride and his family of Arvada, Colo.; several great nieces and nephews; Godson, John F. Corgan of Kittery, Maine, and Goddaughter, Crystal A. Souder of Gilberts, SC; close family friends, Bill O’Donnell of New York and Mary C. Schlumberger of Crystal River, Fla. A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m.,on Saturday, June 13, 2026, at Bibber Memorial Chapel, 67 Summer Street, Kennebunk. Arthur “Tom” F.W. Thoms will be laid to rest following the service, beside Enid in the Marshall family plot at Evergreen Cemetery, Kennebunk. To share a memory or leave a message of condolence, please visit Tom’s Book of Memories Page at [http://www.bibberfuneral.com](http://www.bibberfuneral.com). Arrangements are in the care of Bibber Memorial Chapel, 67 Summer Street, Kennebunk, ME 04043. Copy the Story Link