Born in the 1930s – on July 29, 1935, in Chicago, Illinois, to Walter and Thelma Estes – Tom was never defined by the Great Depression. Tom did suffer with polio as a young child, and while the physical impact remained his entire life, his ministry and family were not defined by it. Tom had one brother, John, who was younger and looked to Tom for guidance and support. The Estes family lived in Mount Morris, Illinois, during most of Tom and John’s younger years, moving to Washington D.C. when Tom was in high school.
Tom finished high school in Washington, D.C., graduating from Woodrow Wilson High School in 1953. During the 1950s, Tom and his parents were members of Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church in Chevy Chase, Maryland. Tom was active in Firesides, the youth fellowship group at that church, and it was within that tight-knit group of lifelong friends that he met the love of his life and future wife, Sally Vaughan Perry.
Tom attended Davidson College in North Carolina for two years and was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity there. He graduated cum laude from American University in Washington, D.C., in 1957. Tom’s undergraduate studies centered on political history and dynamics, and he observed both firsthand while working for a time as an elevator operator within the United States Senate. His calling to serve others manifested during this time in his summertime work as a camp counselor alongside several friends from the Firesides church group.
Tom and Sally married at Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church on August 31, 1957. They moved to Pittsburgh soon after their wedding so that Tom could follow his call to ministry and attend seminary at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. As an early sign of their lives together being drawn to and celebrating diversity, they lived near campus in a tiny studio apartment in a Jewish neighborhood, where Tom developed a lifelong love for Asian food. While they lived in Pittsburgh, their first son John Scott was born, in 1959.
As a part of his degree plan to enter the ministry, Tom was a student pastor for six months at First Presbyterian Church in Chicago Heights, Illinois, beginning in December, 1960. Having impressed folks at First Presbyterian, Tom was officially called there as the Minister of Christian Education immediately upon his graduation in 1961, and Tom and Sally officially began their lives in ministry together. Their second son, Timothy Maxwell, was born in 1961.
In October 1962 the family moved to Livonia, Michigan, a near-western suburb of Detroit, where Tom was called as the Associate Pastor at St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church for 7 years. Tom was active and busy in every part of local and regional church life in his position there, preaching, teaching, counseling, and more. It was during their time so close to Detroit that racial unrest and riots roiled the city in 1967, and after Dr. King was assassinated in 1968, the city again erupted. Tom was one of many white pastors in that area and nationwide to call upon (and act with) the wider church to help facilitate peace and understanding, earnestly working to promote racial harmony and social justice. While they lived in Michigan, their daughter Katherine Vaughan was born in 1963, and their second daughter, Sarah Ellen, was born in 1966.
The Estes family moved to the small town of Geneva, Illinois, in 1969, when Tom was called to serve as Senior Pastor of Fox Valley Presbyterian Church. Tom mentored and learned from several Associate Pastors and numerous seminary students in his role, demonstrating how to put the “teaching” in what would eventually be known as the “Teaching Elder” role for Presbyterian pastors. Tom and Sally made many dear friends during their 20 years in Geneva, and loved being so close to Chicago to attend the theater, museums and the like. Their son, Kevin James, was born in Geneva in 1969. During the family’s Geneva years, Tom studied for his doctorate at McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago, Illinois, graduating as Doctor of Ministry in June 1982.
In 1990 Tom and Sally moved to College Station, Texas, where Tom was called as Senior Pastor for A&M Presbyterian Church. In their first church setting without their children at home, Sally and Tom hosted many United Campus Ministry college students in their home for holidays and regular social events, filling in for parents far away, and developing lasting relationships. Tom continued to live his calling to participate in the larger, relational church by participating in and leading many Presbytery committees, including Committee on Ministry and Committee on Preparation for Ministry. Tom was instrumental in leading A&M Presbyterian Church to merge with Trinity Presbyterian Church and become Covenant Presbyterian Church, where Tom served for a year as Co-Pastor.
Tom and Sally began their active retirement after moving to Austin in 2000. They spent many happy years volunteering at Sanchez Elementary School in reading programs, touching many young students’ lives. Ever the Lord’s servants, they attended Central Presbyterian Church in downtown Austin, where Tom became a Parish Associate. Tom led the Board of Deacons for many years, teaching servant leadership and supporting their ministry to the congregation. Tom also worked closely with many seminary students and student interns from Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary.
Tom loved to laugh, and taught others to laugh with him. The cornier the joke, the better! He was a great storyteller for his and all of Jesus’ children. He drew and painted, mostly for himself and for the private, focused time it offered him, serving as a respite within his busy life of service to others. Affable, thoughtful, jovial, and wise, Tom lived a life of service to the Lord and others by being in relationship with all.
Tom is survived by his 5 children Scott (Tricia), Tim (Barb), Katie, Sarah (Michael), and Kevin (Paula), his sister-in law Ellen Perry, his sister-in-law Lynn Perry, two nieces, a nephew, 8 grandchildren, and 3 great-grandchildren. Tom was preceded in death by his beloved wife Sally, his parents, his brother, and his beloved grandson Perry.
A memorial service in celebration of Tom’s life and ministry will be held on Saturday, October 5th at 1:00pm at Central Presbyterian Church, 200 East 8th Street, Austin, TX 78701.
In lieu of flowers, the family respectfully requests monetary donations be made in honor of Tom’s life of service to Central Presbyterian Church Pastor’s Discretionary Fund.