Thomas Edward Schellinger, 63

Thomas Edward Schellinger, 63, passed away on Wednesday, May 18, 2005, in Sandpoint, Idaho.

Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, May 21, 2005, at Coffelt's Moon Chapel with Pearl Ko Fleck officiating.

Ton was born on July 6, 1941, in Philadelphia, Pa., the son of Edward and Dorothy (Ayling) Schellinger. He grew up in Clementon, N.J., later moving to Encino, Calif., where he attended Birmingham High School.

He enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was stationed aboard the USS Thomaston, a landing ship dock (LSD). His ship transported troops to Southeast Asia during the Laos conflict.

Following his tour in the Navy, he worked for Rocket Dyne (Prior to NASA) on the Apollo Space Program on the F-1 Rocket. He moved to Lake Tahoe, Calif., and began working as an auto mechanic building 4x4 conversions on all types of vehicles.

Tom married Bonny Bitter on Dec. 24, 1977, in Tahoe City, Calif. In 1978, they moved to Sandpoint and started Mr. T's, a four-wheel drive conversion and performance shop and operated it until 1983 when the business burned down. He worked as an RV salesman, automobile salesman for Evergreen Ford and later for Alpine Motors until 2001 when he became disabled.

He was a member of the Lake Pend Oreille Idaho Club and spoke of Lake Pend Oreille as his "church on the lake."

He enjoyed fishing and his family.

Thomas is survived by his wife, Bonny Schellinger of Sandpoint; two daughters, Denice Schellinger of N. Lake Tahoe, Calif., and Bonny Schellinger of Sandpoint; a granddaughter, Chloe Volpi of N. Lake Tahoe; a sister, Dorothy Nagatoski of Santa Clarita, Calif.; and his father, Edward Schellinger of Libby, Mont.

He was preceded in death by his mother and his daughter.

Memorial donations may be made to the Wells Fargo Bank in Sandpoint for the benefit of the Schellinger family.

Arrangements are under the care of Coffelt Funeral Service of Sandpoint.