Tomie Lester Trotter, a retired U.S. Naval Reserve commander, died Jan. 4, 2006, in Seattle following a brief battle with cancer. He was 82 years old.

He was born March 3, 1923 in Augusta, Kan. to Lester and Cretia Gilliand Trotter.

Mr. Trotter attended the United States Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, N.Y. and later entered military service during World War II as a Navy ensign and served with distinction in the Pacific. After the war he graduated from the University of Washington in 1950 with an industrial engineering degree.

Shortly thereafter he returned to active duty in the Navy and served during the Korean War. After returning to civilian life he worked at Boeing for 18 years, later spent time as a shipboard engineer in the Merchant Marine, and worked 23 years in NOAA retiring as a chief engineer.

Mr. Trotter also was a long time naval reservist, during which time he was called to active duty in 1961 during the Berlin crisis. He retired from the Navy with more than 30 years on active and reserve duty.

Friends and family say Mr. Trotter will be remembered for his love of boats and airplanes of all sizes. He owned and flew several airplanes, and as a lifelong boater was a member of the Totem Yacht Club in Tacoma and Quartermaster Yacht Club on Vashon Island.

He and Paula enjoyed flying, and boating. He loved to travel the world with his wife and friends, and recently returned from a trip to Europe. He was a member of Vashon Island Golf and Country Club, The Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #3144 and Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 2826.

Survivors include his wife Paula Trotter of Vashon, sons Tomie Jr. and his wife Judith Trotter of Seattle, Larry and his wife Betty Trotter of Tacoma, Chris and his wife Lynn Trotter of Puyallup, Brad and his wife Trina Trimmer of Oak Harbor, and Ron Trotter of Auburn.

Survivors include 14 grandchildren including Shawn, Colby, Mark and Alyson Trotter, Dominique, Kirsten, Bryan, Benjamin, and Cameron Trimmer, Karen Shiley, Joy and Alan Hood, Faith and Kevin Amundson; eight great grandchildren; sisters Della Caputo of Anaheim, Calif., Carolyn Sullivan of Salem, Ore., Patsy Black of Lake Elsinore, Calif., and brother Jim Trotter of Huntington, Calif.

Two brothers, Bob and Dick Trotter, and grandson Aaron Trotter died earlier.

A celebration of his life will be at 1 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 15, at the Vashon Island Golf and Country Club.

Donations are suggested to VFW Post 2826, P.O. Box 162, Vashon, Wash. 98070.

Burial will be in Tahoma National Cemetery.