Thomas (Tom) Charles Obenchain, 88, of Wilmington, Delaware, passed away peacefully in his sleep on June 22, 2023.

Tom was born Sep. 15th, 1934 in Oak Park, Illinois, to parents Janet and Edgar (Obie). He graduated a proud member of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish with a degree in Chemical Engineering.  He definitely would have preferred more national championships out of the Irish football program, but was always happy when they played.

After graduation, Tom joined the Dupont Corporation in Wilmington, DE as a salesman. He also lived in both Geneva, Switzerland and  Dusseldorf, Germany. He travelled globally on behalf of Dupont. While in Geneva, a chance encounter with Maria, due to a dropped wallet, would forever change his life, as their relationship would eventually lead to the births of his two children. Tom and Maria remained close for over 60 years.

Tom was always known for his humor and for his athletic endeavors. He loved to ski, and luckily was able to hit the slopes at great mountains around the world. He also loved to play tennis and could frequently be found at the DuPont Country club in Wilmington. In later years, he added track events and swimming to his repertoire, even competing in the Senior Olympics, where he took gold in the 100m sprint and 200m sprint.

After retirement, Tom took time to give back to the community. He volunteered at local elementary schools to read and tutor underprivileged children. He delivered meals to shut-ins, and volunteered as a driver to shuttle bread from bakeries to local food banks. Tom also participated in preparing lunches for those in need at the Emmanuel Dining Hall once a week prior to COVID-19.

Tom had been supported by his partner Cathy in the later years of his life. He was able to lean on Cathy both physically and emotionally. We're grateful Cathy was there for him.

A special thank you to Dr. Nisha Gandhi and her team at Christiana Care's Heart Failure Group for their dedicated attention and care for Tom over the past several months.

Tom is predeceased by his parents and his sister Nancy. He is survived by his sisters Patricia and Louise, and by his children Thomas (Mia) and Michelle (Dale). He is also survived by his four grandchildren, Xavier, Zane, Chloe and Olivia; and his longtime partner, Catherine "Cathy" Murphy.

Dad - we'll miss your visits, our facetime calls, your humor and your pride in us. We're grateful for the time we had in knowing that you made a positive impact on many people. We're glad you're in a better place. Love, Thomas & Michelle

On Thursday, June 29, 2023, a visitation will be held from 9:30 A.M. to 10:30 A.M. with a Mass of Christian Burial beginning at 10:30 A.M. at St. Joseph's on the Brandywine Catholic Church, 10 Old Church Rd, Wilmington, DE 19807. Burial will follow in the adjoining church cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Thomas' name to a local heart health charity.