Tom Doran

A memorial service celebrating the life of Tom Doran will be held at a future date. Tom passed away suddenly and peacefully, February 19, 2008 in Whiting, Indiana. He and his wife, Sue, had made a trip back to his hometown to surprise his mother for her 95th birthday. Tom was born on September 16, 1937 to Allen and Ann (Doran) Forauer. He is preceded in death by his father Allen; two brothers, John and Allen Jr. and his wife Dorothy. Tom was born in East Chicago, Indiana and grew up in Whiting, Indiana. He served as a page in the House of Representatives in Washington D.C, at the age of 16, living and attending school there. Upon graduation from high school, he attended Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana and worked summers for Standard Oil. He earned a degree in business and received his draft notice the day he graduated. Tom served two years in the United States Army in Germany. Upon his discharge he moved to Los Angeles, California where he initially worked for Standard Oil. In Los Angeles he accompanied a friend to a job interview and decided, instead of just waiting for his friend, to take the required test also. His friend didn't get the job, but Tom passed with flying colors and was offered the job. He took it and thus started his long career as a social worker. Tom married Susan Elaine Thimm on July 18, 1969, in Los Angeles, California. He retired from Los Angeles County after 22 years. During those years Tom worked with children, the elderly, the mentally and physically handicapped, totally disabled, and terminally ill. In 1990 Tom moved his wife, two children, and in-laws to Roswell. He continued his career working for the State of New Mexico in the C.Y.F.D Protective Services Division. The last few years of his working career he worked for the New Mexico Department of Health Division of Health Improvement as the South Eastern Regional Incident Management System Coordinator. Tom had an uncanny ability to read people. He was liked by the very young, the old, and those in between. He had an ageless quality. He could socialize with his childrens friends and they enjoyed his company as much as he did theirs. Tom believed in hard work. He worked two jobs for eight years when his children were small. He taught his children the importance of hard work, honesty, and responsibility. He is survived by his mother, Ann Doran Forauer of Whiting, Indiana; his wife of 38 years, Sue; one daughter, Paddy Forrester and her husband Jason of Roswell; one son, Sean Doran of Albuquerque; one grandshild, Jack Thomas Forrester; his sister-in-law, Jerri Doran of Anaheim, California; nephews John Doran Jr. of Concord, California and Jim Doran of Hesperia, California; also a neice, Deidre Knop of Indianapolis, Indiana. At the request of the family, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the charity of you choice. Please share your thoughts and memories with the family in the online register book at andersonbethany.com Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson-Bethany Funeral Home and Crematory. When through one man a little more love and goodness, a little more light and truth come into the world then that man's life has had meaning. Oh, how we will miss him.

Tom Doran

September 16, 1937 - February 19, 2008