Email  Print

Thomas Allen Wimmer

Thomas Allen Wimmer ("Pops") of Sonoma, passed away Friday, Nov. 12, 2010. He spent his last few days with his wife and two daughters in the comfort of his own home.

Tom was born in Seattle, Wash., on Dec. 14, 1934, to Tom and Harriet Wimmer. Tom grew up in Orlando, Fla., with his mother and sister and later returned to Seattle and graduated from the University of Washington. After graduation, Tom went to work for Seattle Lighting, a firm owned by his father, Thomas O. Wimmer.

In keeping with his personality, individuality, and ambitious spirit, Tom left Seattle Lighting to open his own business, Lighting Systems Inc., selling to contractors, designers and specifiers. His interest in hunting and fishing and with the encouragement of friends, he opened a satalite in Anchorage, Alaska. also called Lighting Systems Inc. Eventually, this led to an addition called Thomas Allens, a designer furniture and accessories showroom.

On a business trip to Sonoma in 1981, Tom met the love of his life, Barbara, at the Sonoma Mission Inn and one year later they were married on Aug. 7, 1982, at the place they had first met. They spent three more years in Anchorage. In 1985, they closed the business and moved back to the Bay Area to Marin County.

Upon arrival, Tom went to work for City Electric Supply, opening up their first Lighting Showroom now called City Lights while Barbara began San Francisco Lighting Sales, a manufactures representative agency. Eventually Tom left City Lights to work with Barbara. Together they built the business, which daughter Kellie now runs.

Tom found great joy in his work and was very passionate about wine, food and travel. They moved to Sonoma in 1994, bought their current home. Eventually they bought 12 acres of vineyard property and planted melbec and cabernet. They named it Weeping Willow vineyards.

Tom is survived by his wife Barbara; his two daughters, Kellie Cox, of Sonoma, Krissie Schick; son-in-law, RJ; and three grandchildren, Brynja, Lara and Katarina of Mukilteo, Wash.; his mother, Harriet Hoagland; a sister, Joan and brother-in-law, Tom Beatty; a brother, John and sister-in-law, Rosemary, all of Orlando Fla., as well as a sister, Jan Caldwell, of Oklawaha, Fla.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, March 12, 2011, at the Renaissance Lodge at the Sonoma Resort and Spa, 1325 Broadway, Sonoma, CA 95476.