Thelma C. Eberwein

Thelma "Tommy" Eberwein spent 104 years turning strangers into friends and making every place she lived feel like home. It was advice she later passed on to her family: "Don't think home is the place you’re from; make home where you go."

From a humble farm in rural Florida to a bustling household in Baltimore and, finally, to Portland's Willamette View Retirement Community, she left every place richer in friendship than she found it. She passed away peacefully on July 12, 2026, leaving behind a life defined not by its remarkable length, but by the warmth, generosity, and optimism with which she lived.

Born on October 16, 1921, in Miami, Florida, Tommy grew up on a pineapple farm during a time when much of Miami was still rural. She was one of six children and often credited her long, healthy life to those early years spent outdoors, swimming in the Atlantic Ocean, climbing trees, and working alongside her family. Her mother always knew where to find her tomboy, high in the branches of her favorite tree, usually with a book.

The hardships of the Great Depression shaped Tommy’s outlook for the rest of her life. She witnessed her family's fortunes change almost overnight when the banks closed, yet she also remembered that her mother always cooked extra food for strangers who arrived hungry at their door. Those experiences instilled in her a lifelong gratitude for life's blessings and a quiet conviction that kindness should always be shared.

Tommy attended the University of Miami, where she was Homecoming Queen in 1940, graduated with degrees in elementary education and theatre arts, and began teaching speech and drama.

During World War II she met Army Air Corps navigator Bruce Eberwein. Their courtship was interrupted when Bruce's B-17 suffered enemy fire in a mission over Italy. He nearly lost his life and ultimately lost his left leg. After more than a year of surgeries and learning to walk with a prosthetic, Bruce telephoned Tommy to ask if she would marry him. She said yes without hesitation. They were married in 1945, just weeks after the end of the war, beginning a partnership that would endure until Bruce's death in 1982.

Together they built a joyful home in Baltimore, where they raised five children. Bruce spent his entire career as a non-profit executive, helping children and adults with disabilities lead fuller lives, while Tommy devoted herself to family, church, schools, neighborhood life, and countless volunteer activities. Their home was filled with spirited conversations, card games, watching the Colts, swimming, music, laughter, and a steady stream of friends.

Among the treasures in Tommy’s keepsake drawer was a letter a longtime Baltimore neighbor wrote to Tommy's mother. “I’m going to tell you just how swell I think your daughter is. She always looks on the bright side of life. She will always sit and listen...and give an honest answer." The letter was never intended for publication, but it describes her perfectly. People sought out Tommy because she listened without judgment, was genuinely interested in other people, encouraged without preaching, and somehow made everyone feel lighter after spending time with her.

Tommy treasured her friendships almost as deeply as her family. None meant more than her lifelong friendship with Mildred "Millie" Phillips. For more than fifty years they celebrated life's joys together and carried one another through its sorrows. Tommy wrote that their friendship "deserves a book of its own."

After Bruce's death, Tommy demonstrated the same quiet courage that had marked every chapter of her life. She chose to begin again. In 1996, in her mid-seventies, she moved across the country to Willamette View. It was a bold decision that surprised many, but Tommy embraced it wholeheartedly. She welcomed new residents, served on committees, made lasting friendships, and often remarked that she had found "the right place." Looking back, she considered the move to a retirement center one of the happiest decisions of her life.

An avid swimmer, Tommy continued swimming a mile each day well into her nineties. She loved books, travel, music, nature, conversation, and family gatherings. She delighted in people.

Tommy is survived by her children, Bruce (Carole), Bart (Jill), Robert (Sigrid), and Jesse Shannon (Jan); daughter-in-law, Kristin Eberwein; 13 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and cherished friends. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Bruce; and son, William.

A Memorial Service celebrating Tommy's life will be 10:00 a.m., Friday, August 21, 2026, at Moreland Presbyterian Church, where she served as a deacon and formed many lasting friendships. A second East Coast service will be held at Arlington National Cemetery where her ashes will be placed with Bruce’s.

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to the extraordinary caregivers at Willamette View, whose kindness and compassion enriched Tommy's final three decades. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Willamette View, Inc. Employee Appreciation Fund.

Near the end of her life, Tommy left her family a journal, looking back, packed with memories. She concluded it with the same gratitude and faith that guided her throughout her life: "I have been truly blessed. God is good."