Thomas Howerton Vaden, 78, of Mechanicsville, MD passed away on December 20, 2014. He was born on December 21, 1935 in Washington, DC to the late Henry Covington Vaden and the late Emma Mae (Taylor) Vaden.

Tom retired from Verizon after 35 years, starting with C&P Telephone. He was president of the Clinton Area Recreation Council for several years, Church Board Member of Ryland Methodist Church, the director of the Clinton, MD 4th of July parade for 15 years, an election judge, a youth basketball coach, a football referee for area high schools, and on a duckpins bowling league in his 20's, 30's and 40's. Tom enjoyed going to the mountains of Shenandoah National Park (Skyline Drive) with family members and loved hiking the mountain trails. He also enjoyed family vacations to Alaska, the Smoky Mountains in North Carolina, the Grand Canyon, and New England.

In 1964 Tom and Kaleen attended the World's Fair in New York. He was an avid fan of the Washington Redskins and the Washington Capitals. Tom attended his first Redskins game as an infant while his mother worked the telephone switchboard for the stadium. In the past few years he was also a Washington Nationals baseball fan. His children and grandchildren meant the world to him, and he was very proud of them all. He was privileged to care for Drew, Jessie, Megan, and Ian after school in their younger years. He also drove Jack (before he was old enough to drive) to the University of Maryland where he worked in the microbiology lab. He followed Brittany in her ice skating and Kelly in her dressage horseback riding. His new great-granddaughter Layla was a joy to him, and he loved her mother, Melanie Buckler. His motto was, "Something good comes out of everything".

In addition to his parents, Thomas was predeceased by his three sisters, Jean Vaden Petersen, Emma Vaden Burton and Elizabeth "Betty Lou" Vaden Martin.

Thomas is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Kaleen Peck Vaden; two children, Elaine Quesinberry (John) and Ed Vaden (Heather); brother, H. Taylor "Bud" Vaden; seven grandchildren: Jack Thomas Quesinberry, Kelly Elaine Quesinberry, Brittany Elizabeth Quesinberry, Andrew Thomas "Drew" Vaden, Jessica "Jessie" Lynn Vaden, Ian James Long (Taren) and Megan Elizabeth Long; and one great-grandchild, Layla Nicole Vaden.

Family and friends will be received for Tom's Memorial Life Celebration Saturday, December 27 at Mt. Zion United Methodist Church, 27108 Mt. Zion Church Rd, Mechanicsville, MD 20659. The service will begin at 11:30 a.m. and the family will receive friends beginning at 10:30 a.m., in the church. A reception will follow in the church hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Tom's memory may be made to: Hospice of St. Mary's, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, MD 20650. Arrangements provided by Brinsfield Funeral Home.