Thomas Porter Eldred was born on
Oct. 26, 1946 in Minot, North Dakota.
The fourth of five children of Porter and Dawn Eldred, Tom graduated from Silverton Union High School in 1964. He enlisted in the US Army following graduation, and served as a Dental Technician in Vietnam.
Returning home following his service, he held various jobs, including working at Orville Roth’s new grocery store, before going to work alongside his father as a custodian at Mark Twain Junior High.
While an injury later in life cut his working career short, he supplemented his income by mowing lawns and recycling cans, and was well known for both. He also spent considerable time maintaining a connection to the elderly who’d entered local care facilities and was a formidable family historian, valuing the memory of our older generations. He helped deliver meals for the Senior Center and was always willing to help someone in need.
He spent many years rescuing and providing care to cats who were either stray or orphaned once their family member(s) had passed away and was known by many as the Cat Man.
He was preceded in death by his parents, by sisters Linda Gentry and Sally Meisenheimer, and by niece Robin Gentry. He is survived by sisters Lorna Steinberger and Jane Bolton, as well as nephews Kevin and Kyle Palmer, Mike Steinberger, Darin and Corey Meisenheimer, and Jason Satern, as well as nieces Lisa LeFrancois, Kasey Jones, and Amy Bruntz.
He is also survived by his final housemate, Boomer. In keeping with his wishes, there was no formal service, but there was an informal gathering to remember Tom at the Home Place Restaurant on June 30.
Donations in Tom’s name can be made to the Silverton Senior Center, Salem Friends of Felines, or to the local VFW.
