On Thursday, June 16, 2022, Tom Hampson, 62, passed away peacefully by the side of his wife Barbara.
Tom was born on February 28, 1960, in Poughkeepsie, New York to Ella and Ronald Hampson. He married his childhood sweetheart Barbara Ann Cole on August 25, 1984, many happy years after their mutual crush was confirmed via a passed note in Junior High study hall. Tom and Barb graduated from Arlington High School in 1978, and Tom went on to work at IBM and then SSI. He was a member of the Clinton Volunteer Fire Department; a favorite “rescue” story was when he and his buddies were on a call in a snowstorm and another call unexpectedly came through for his own house as his young son had broken his leg.
Together Tom and Barb had two beautiful children and crossed the country to build a life in Texas, where he spent a long career as a Chemical Engineer. Tom and Barb always had a plan to retire early and Tom’s cancer diagnosis helped spur them on to make it a reality, making the most of these last 6 ½ years together.
Tom was known for his dry wit, creativity in the kitchen, and his love for exploring the backroads. Tom and Barbara road-tripped across the country together: from national parks to a field in Nebraska just to catch a solar eclipse in the path of totality. Tom disliked GPS and highways, always taking the long way with family, friends, and his trusty paper map. Tom and Barb loved sharing firepits, BBQs, and holiday parties with neighbors. He fully embraced becoming a Texan and started an annual neighborhood BBQ cookoff with a coveted golden spatula award. Tom’s pride was working in his yard and designing backyard projects. We will always remember the way Tom loved sitting on the back porch he built himself, contemplating the universe, beer in hand.
Tom was preceded in death by his father, Ron. He is survived by his wife Barbara, his children Nikki and Charles and their partners, his mother Ella, his siblings Ken, Dianne, Kathy, and Amy and their partners, and his many nieces and nephews.
Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations go to Flatwater Foundation at 3575 Far West Blvd #29810, Austin, TX 78731 or Hospice Austin at 4107 Spicewood Springs Road, Austin, TX 78758 in support of the wonderful services of Christopher House.
