With heavy hearts and a few fond chuckles, the family of Thomas Joseph Hagler announces that he has completed his final departure, leaving behind a well-used toolbox, a lifetime of stories from the hangar, and a firm belief that if something breaks, you should always try hitting it with a wrench first.

Born on December 12th, 1956 in San Francisco, Tom grew up alongside his three sisters and five brothers. They were an energetic brood known for running amok and ensuring that silence was never to be had. In 1974, Tom met a blue-eyed beauty named Georgia. 4 ½ years later, the two married in a shotgun ceremony next to the public swimming pool. It was a fairytale wedding, complete with a freak rainstorm.

Tom started working as an Auto Mechanic while he was still in his teens. It was a job he hated more than Brussels sprouts but appreciated for opening the door to his dream career: Aviation. In the early 90s, he had the opportunity to take his mechanical skills to Jones’ Flying Service, where he worked as an Aircraft Inspector and Technician for crop dusters. He went on to work for Oroville Aviation, and then eventually became the owner of Table Mountain Aviation.

As a lifelong airplane enthusiast, aircraft mechanic, master pilot, small business owner, and certified dork, Tom logged countless hours both in the sky and under the hood of aircraft, proving that gravity is negotiable if you know what you’re doing. Tom was the kind of person who could listen to an engine cough once and diagnose its entire life story. He could identify aircraft by sound, discuss engines for hours, and probably glanced at every plane overhead thinking, “I could fix that”.

In 2023, after decades of keeping himself and other pilots safely in the air, Tom entered the world of retirement; however, that didn’t slow him down. He spent his days volunteering for the Chico Air Museum and Paradise Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS). When he wasn’t flying or serving his community, Tom loved traveling, enjoying good music, building model airplanes, and above all else, spending time with his family. Whether it was a quiet conversation or a gathering filled with laughter, those moments meant everything to him.

Friends and family will remember Tom for a sharp sense of humor, a touch of stubbornness, and a talent for explaining complex mechanical problems using colorful language that cannot be published here. Though he didn’t believe in an afterlife, Tom believed deeply in living well while you’re here. Judging by the number of friends, family members, and fellow aviation enthusiasts who will miss him dearly, he did exactly that.

Tom is survived by his wife of 47 years, Georgia; daughters Talina (Jennifer), Linda (Jean Phillippe), and Lynne (Cory); sons, David, and Christopher (Serenity); five grandchildren Joie, Oscar, Annabelle, Dante, and Amara; four brothers Mark, Joe, Ben, and George; and two sisters Debbie and Sue. He was preceded in death by his mother Marie Bowen, sister Laurie, and brother Arlo.

Clear skies, smooth air, and tailwinds…and as always, Fly Well!

A celebration of life will be held:

Sunday April 12th at 1pm at the Chico Air Museum

165 Ryan Avenue

Chico, California.

In lieu of flowers, Tom’s family asks you to consider making a donation to the Chico Air Museum.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Ramsey Funeral Home 530-534-3877