THOMAS JAMES CARLOS
September 15, 1921
to May 21, 2011
Thomas James Carlos of Wahiawa, a retired HPD Sergeant, age 89, passed away on May 21, 2011 surrounded by family.
Born September 15, 1921 in Hakalau on the Big Island, Tom was the youngest of nine children of John Medeiros Carlos and Alice Fernandez Carlos. The family moved to Mountain View, then finally Hilo. A super athlete in Hilo High School, after graduating in 1942 he joined the military. He served 2 1/2 years in the U.S. Army as part of the 27th Infantry Division and then joined the Honolulu Police Department in 1945. At HPD his patrol beat was District 11 (Wahiawa) and later the Airport District. Active in the community, he was part of the Police Athletic League (P.A.L.) and coached biddy boxing, baseball and basketball. A highlight for some of his own children was to ride in the yellow P.A.L. bus with the team, and being permitted to pull the lever for the manual turn signal. He served as Deacon at First Baptist Church of Wahiawa and maintained the church's building and grounds. Not being content after retiring in 1977 from HPD after 32 years of service, he continued to work at the Airport with crew transport for the Airport Terminal Transportation. In 1995 he worked at his son-in-law's medical practice as delivery and file clerk until his ultimate final retirement at age 80.
A proud family man, Tom was named HPD District 11's Father of the Year in 1972. He organized many family outings, with the highlight as the annual camp-out at Mokuleia Beach. One of the favorite activities during camping was making ice cream in the hand-cranked grinder while on the beach. He enjoyed cooking and baking, especially Portuguese bean soup and malasadas. The malasada dough was left to rise in a huge blanket-covered pot placed on the bed. Of course we quickly learned to never jump on that bed without looking first! He instilled the value of hard work into his children, but most important, the value of a good sense of humor. In 1995 after having open heart surgery to replace his aortic valve with a porcine valve, he enjoyed telling everyone that he was "no longer pure Portuguese, but was now a Portagee Sausage!"
Tom was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 65 years, Dorothy Young Sui Kong Carlos, daughter Sharon Oliver-De Costa, and grandson Hoku Oliver. He is survived by son, Steven (Lila) Carlos; daughters Cynthia (Dr. Ghim) Yeoh, Phyllis (Wayne) Ogasawara, Aileen Carlos (Robert) Nichols, Gaylene (Cindy Ling) Carlos, son-in-law Lesley De Costa; nephew Ronald Akamu; 15 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins.
Visitation 9:00 a.m. Saturday, July 23rd at Mililani Mortuary Mauka Chapel; Funeral Service 10:00 a.m. Burial 11:00 a.m. at Mililani Memorial Park. Casual attire. No flowers, please.
THOMAS JAMES CARLOS
September 15, 1921
to May 21, 2011
Thomas James Carlos of Wahiawa, a retired HPD Sergeant, age 89, passed away on May 21, 2011 surrounded by family.
Born September 15, 1921 in Hakalau on the Big Island, Tom was the youngest of nine children of John Medeiros Carlos and Alice Fernandez Carlos. The family moved to Mountain View, then finally Hilo. A super athlete in Hilo High School, after graduating in 1942 he joined the military. He served 2 1/2 years in the U.S. Army as part of the 27th Infantry Division and then joined the Honolulu Police Department in 1945. At HPD his patrol beat was District 11 (Wahiawa) and later the Airport District. Active in the community, he was part of the Police Athletic League (P.A.L.) and coached biddy boxing, baseball and basketball. A highlight for some of his own children was to ride in the yellow P.A.L. bus with the team, and being permitted to pull the lever for the manual turn signal. He served as Deacon at First Baptist Church of Wahiawa and maintained the church's building and grounds. Not being content after retiring in 1977 from HPD after 32 years of service, he continued to work at the Airport with crew transport for the Airport Terminal Transportation. In 1995 he worked at his son-in-law's medical practice as delivery and file clerk until his ultimate final retirement at age 80.
A proud family man, Tom was named HPD District 11's Father of the Year in 1972. He organized many family outings, with the highlight as the annual camp-out at Mokuleia Beach. One of the favorite activities during camping was making ice cream in the hand-cranked grinder while on the beach. He enjoyed cooking and baking, especially Portuguese bean soup and malasadas. The malasada dough was left to rise in a huge blanket-covered pot placed on the bed. Of course we quickly learned to never jump on that bed without looking first! He instilled the value of hard work into his children, but most important, the value of a good sense of humor. In 1995 after having open heart surgery to replace his aortic valve with a porcine valve, he enjoyed telling everyone that he was "no longer pure Portuguese, but was now a Portagee Sausage!"
Tom was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 65 years, Dorothy Young Sui Kong Carlos, daughter Sharon Oliver-De Costa, and grandson Hoku Oliver. He is survived by son, Steven (Lila) Carlos; daughters Cynthia (Dr. Ghim) Yeoh, Phyllis (Wayne) Ogasawara, Aileen Carlos (Robert) Nichols, Gaylene (Cindy Ling) Carlos, son-in-law Lesley De Costa; nephew Ronald Akamu; 15 grandchildren, 24 great grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins.
Visitation 9:00 a.m. Saturday, July 23rd at Mililani Mortuary Mauka Chapel; Funeral Service 10:00 a.m. Burial 11:00 a.m. at Mililani Memorial Park. Casual attire. No flowers, please.Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
