Thomas Franklin Way
February 1, 1941 ~ January 17, 2009
Services:
A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, January 24, 2009 at 10:00 AM in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Small officiating. Interment will follow in Oak Hill Cemetery, Fredericksburg, VA.
Visitation:
Viewing/Visitation will be held on Friday, Janaury 23, 2009 from 5:00 - 8:00 PM in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, where Prayers will be said at 7:00 PM.
Thomas F. Way, 67, of Waldorf, Maryland entered peacefully into rest on January 17, 2009 at Washington Hospital Center in Washington, DC. Tom was born February 1, 1941 in Fredericksburg, VA and grew up in Washington, DC. He later moved to Southern Maryland where he lived out the rest of his life. Tom attended Chamberlain High School in Washington, DC. He graduated from American University in Washington, DC with a degree in Administration of Justice. In 1963, he joined the Metropolitan Police Department. He retired as a Lieutenant in 1991. In 1994 he went to work at the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration where he stayed until he retired in 2003. Tom was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge # 1 in Washington, DC. He was a lifetime member of the DC Ramblers Motorcycle Club. He was also a member of the Blue Knights Motorcycle Club and the Waldorf Moose Lodge. In August 1994, he received the "Longest Club Ride" Award from the DC Ramblers for a 4500 mile trip to Sturgis, SD. Tom lived with grace, honor, love and tenacity. Many lives have been touched by him. He was an avid Redskins fan and loved to vacation in Nags Head, NC. He leaves behind a beloved family that includes his wife Jeannette, his son Shawn Way of Duncan, OK; daughter Robin and her husband Scott Hamilton of Brandywine MD; step-son Tony and his wife Pam Wood of Lusby MD; step-daughter Judy and her husband Dean Cornish of Fredericksburg, VA and sister Florence Winfield of Dallas, TX. He is also survived by nieces, nephews and many friends. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother Ivan Patton, JR and his stepson Harold Wood. The family will receive friends on Friday, January 23, 2009 from 5:00 – 8:00 PM in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, where Prayers will be said at 7:00 PM. A Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, January 24, 2009 at 10:00 AM in the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Small officiating. Interment will be at Oak Hill Cemetery, Fredericksburg, VA.
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“Shawn we are thinking of you and your family. I know this time is difficult. If we can do anything to help in any way, please let us know. With love, Holly and Rick”
“Jeanette, I am very sorry for your loss. Your family will be in my prayers.”
“Our sympathy goes out to you & your family. Tom will surely be missed at the Ramblers. You are in our prayers. John McLaughlin, Member of the D.C. Ramblers”
“Tom’s family and friends are suffering a great loss. Tom was a new friend, a wonderful person and will be missed by everyone. My thoughts, prayers and support go out to his family. “
“Jeanette – We were so sorry to hear of your loss. Tom was one of the pillars to the DC Ramblers MC and will surely be missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.”
“Jeanette, words at this time can not even beging to express the sadness we all feel for your terrable loss of Tom. If there is any thing I or the Club (D.C.Ramblers)can do to help in anyway through these sad times, Please do not hesitate to call or let us know. Our thoughts and prayers are with you…..Hans”
“Jeannette, We are so sorry for your loss, TOM was a wonderful guy, we will keep you in our prayers and thoughts.”
“Shawn, My sympathy is with you, I know how hard this is. You and your family are in my prayers.”
“Our sincere sympathy to all the family during this sad time. You are in our prayers.”
“Sorry for your loss..”
“Jeanette, I am so terribly sorry to hear the news about Tom. You are in my thoughts and prayers.”
“To the Way’s Family, Our sympathy goes out to your family. Lt. Thomas “Tommy” Way was one of our dear friends who visted our resturant ” The Cafe St. James” on many occasions with his fellow officers of the First District. He was one of a few officers who talked me into joining the Police Department in 1981. Tommy will be remember as a great man and will always be in our hearts. God bless your whole family, Jimmy, Sonny, Barbara, John”
“Dear Jeannette and Family Our sincere condolences to you at the loss of Tom. I first met you and Tom through Our Pam, seeing you both often in our office , Tom always had a smile and was very friendly, I am truly sorry for your loss. We will keep you in our thoughts and prayers. Take Care Wayne and Joan Thompson”
“We are so sorry. Tommy was a great person. He was a friend of Tom’s for over 35 years.”
“Jeanette, please know how very, very, sad we are. Tom was a special person and the years we shared his friendship will always be remembered. Our love and prayers are with you, his children, and extended family. If there is anything we can do, let us know. Love, Trish & Grizz xoxo”
“Shawn and Robyn: We are sorry for your loss. Your father was a very special and kind man. Love, Aunt florence, John, Erin, and Darlynn”
“My thoughts are with you all during this time. Many wishes for peace during this difficult time.”
“Tom and I were friends for about 20 years, I never met a more honest,decent person, he had the courage to do what was right in spite of those who would stand in his way. A courage that is hard to find today. He and Jeanette found each other late in life ,but enjoyed it for the time they had together. So sorry it had to end too soon. Our thoughts are with you and may he rest in peace.”
“Jeanette,our sincere sympathy goes out to you and your family at this time of loss. Tom was a good friend.”
“Jeanette, I have know Tom Way as my supervisor, which none was better. But most of all I knew Tom as my friend, someone you could seek advise from who took time to lisen. He will be missed. “
“I was deeply saddened to hear the tragic news of Tom Way’s passing. Tom was a great police official and a compassionate human being. I will always be thankful for his wise counsel and guidance during my formative years at MPD. Lou Widawski “
“My condolences to the Way family. I had worked at 1D1 when Tommy was there. He was a great Lt.”
“Tommy was a good policeman, a dedicated FOP member, and most of all he was my friend. Tommy ment a lot to many people and he will be missed. The Way family has my deepest sympathy. Bless you all. “
“Tom (Buckshot) and I grew up in S.E. D.C. and were members of The Boy’s Club of Washington where we became commisioners of D.C. for a day.We both ended up on the M.P.D.C. I will always have good memories of Buckshot, he is and will remain in my prayers. God Bless his family. Chip D’Camera “
“Sometimes the mark of a man is determined how well he leads his fellow man. As a supervisor, with the Metropolitan Police Department, Lt. Way was respected, not only for his skills and knowledge; he was also respected for his compassion and ability to motivate officers to perform in a professional and competent manner. He was one of my supervisors, and he indeed was a fine man. He will be missed…”
“Robin and Shawn, My deepest sympathy and condolences to each of you and your family. My thoughts and prayers are with you during this most difficult time. Robin, please let me know if I can help in any way Love Cindy”
“Jeanette, It is with heartfelt sorrow and disbelief I write these words to express to you the saddness the Moore family feels of the passing of our dear friend and long-time vacation buddy Tommy. You and Tommy filled our lives with joy and happiness and I Thank God for every minute my family was blessed with having the both of you in our lives. Peace be with you Jeanette. You both will forever be in our prayers.”
“My prayers & condolences to the Way Family. I worked with Tommy at the First District. He was a good “Old School” Lt. who took care of his people. Tommy will be missed by all who new him. “
“Sorry for your loss, Tommy’s at the big Roll Call in the Sky!”
“Jeannette, We send our prayers to you, especially Tom’s Granny W. She will always remember Tom for his loving ways. The 31 day freindship cake without coconut and the jar of homemade relish that Tom always enoyed will never be forgotten by Granny. She enjoyed making those things for Tom. She will also miss him at the annual May Shad Bake at the Masonic Temple. Take care of yourself, and may God Bless you always. Brenda/Granny W,”
“Tommy and I go back to the days of the 2nd Precinct, MPD, he was my Sgt. and he ranks at the very top of the finest people I’ve ever known and had the privledge to work with. Having known Tommy for all these years it would be hard for me to imagine the depth of the loss you are feeling and can only urge you to dwell on the times you had together. May God bless him and his entire family during this very private time. “
“I am offering my heartfelt condolences to the Way Family. It has been many years since I met and worked with Lt. Way at the Third District, Metropolitan Police Dept., Washington, D.C., during the late l970s. He was an amazing official who was well thought of by his peers and subordinates. We are saddened by your loss.”
“There are never words adequate enough to express our heartfelt sympathy at times like these, however, we often forget how many lives he touched during his time with us. May the wind be at his back and the sun on his face. “
“Jeanette, Our sincere sympathy to you and your family. You are in our thoughts and prayers. So very sorry for your loss. “
“Tom was my first Lt’s in the First District. My memory of him was that of a fair leader who looked after his men and women as if they were his family. A good man a good policeman but most of all a true leader. I am so sorry for your and all our loss.”
“My partner and I were always a worry to the Lt. but he was always there when we needed him. He will be missed by me.”
“I knew Tom from the Third Dsitrict of the MPDC and a more gracious and genuine fine man I have never met. A great supervisor who looked out for his men and a great Police Officer. Tommy will be sorely missed by all who knew him. God bless his family and all of his friends.”
“I worked in 1-D with Tom as my lieutenant back in the 70’s. He was a gentleman, professional and a leader who gave guidance to his troops. Always quiet even when sipping a beer at the FOP. We bumped into each other a few times after he retired and it was always nice to see him. He was a very good man. My condolences to his family.”
“I was surprised and saddened to hear of Tommy Way’s passing. Tommy was a good man and outstanding fellow police officer. Tommy and I both grew up in SE DC, but never met until we joined the department. We even lived in the same apartment building for awhile and both started in old 14, but assigned in different sections. As the years passed, we took different career paths, but whenever we would meet, he always had that same friendly smile and I can still hear his laugh. As many have already said, he was a great police official who always supported his Officers. I pray for Tommy and his family, may he rest in peace.”
“I am very sorry for your loss. You are in my thoughts and prayers. “
“Robin, May you know the peace and comfort this heartfelt thought imparts. The ones we love are never gone, they live within our hearts. It’s never easy for those left behind, when you lose someone unexpectedly. May your happy memories give you strength at this difficult time. May it help to know I am nearby in your time of need. Call any time if you need someone to listen. With heartfelt sympathy and caring, Carolyn “
“Jeannette, words can’t even describe how sorry I am to hear about Tom. I know I didn’t show it, but I loved you both to death. I regret not seeing you both, and more so now that I can see or tell Tom these same words. Love you!”
“”Tommy has not been a part of my life for the last 30 years, but he was very much a part of the first half. We met at the Boy’s Club of America, where we both eventually worked in the recreation dept. We attended and graduated from Hine Jr. High School in S.E. DC. A picture of the graduating class is in our hall. We even lived in the same apartment building on Texas Ave. for a short time. Tommy(I never liked the name Buckshort) was a man of honesty and integrity. “
“Dear Robin, Shawn, and Jeannette I am so sorry to hear about your loss. Uncle Buck was a good man. He was a man of honor and integrity. I and my family have and always will have the utmost respect for him. I am sure that he has a special place in heaven for taking such wonderful care of Grandma Lucy. Our family will never forget him. May the lord bless you and comfort you during this difficult time. If there is anything that I can do to help, please call. All my love. Kitty”
“I wish to express my sympathy to the family. As heaven gains a great soul, this world has lost a great man. As a new officer coming into the First District, Tommie took a liking to me and showed me a father like leadership. I always wondered why and I later learned that this was just his way. I am proud to have known Tommy as a mentor and a friend. “
“To you and yours, I didn’t have the pleasure of meeting Thomas but I know from the wonderful people that he had around him I would have enjoyed him. You are in my heart and prayers. Sincerely, Kathy “
“As a new lieutenant in the First District in the 1980, Tommy helped me through the rough spots. “
“So sorry to hear about Tom. I was k-9 in 1D and worked with Tom from 1988 to 1991. He was a great working lieutenant, from backing you up on a traffic stop to helping evacuate an apartment building on fire. He was a great cop and a great guy.”
“Im very sorry for your loss. Mr. Way was such a nice man and it was a pleasure to know him. “
” Lt. Thomas Way was a very special person who you didn’t mind serving with. He was very respected at the First District and I can’t think of anything but positive admiration for. My family will keep the Way family in our prayers.”
“Jeannette, I am so sorry to hear of Toms passing. My thoughts and prayers are with you. I did not know him personally, but he must have been a good person because you seemed so happy. May God hold you and your family in his hands. “
“To the Way Family, I am sorry for your loss of Tom. He was my Lt. when I was in the tact squad at the first district. If you were a hard working Officer he stood by you even if you made mistakes in the performance of your duties. This is a sign of a good leader. He will be missed by all.”
“We wish to send our condolences to Shawn and Robyn for the loss of there Dad, he was a great guy and will always be remembered for his kindness to others. Your Dad spoke of you often and he was so so proud of both your accomplishments. “
“Jeannette, Robyn and Shawn I worked with Tommy on MPDC; he was an exceptional Official and an even better friend. Tommy taught us all to see the silver lining no matter how bad the situation. We had great times together both on and off the job, at the pub, and during our Outer Banks vacations. His laugh will stay alive in our hearts and minds. We will all miss Tommy so very much.”