Thomas James Schultz (May 13, 1946 – May 20, 2026)

Thomas James Schultz, 80, of Green Valley, Arizona, passed away peacefully on the morning of May 20, 2026. Born in La Crosse, Wisconsin on May 13, 1946, Tom was the son of the late Gordon Schultz and Lorraine (Trudelle) Schultz. He moved to Phoenix in 1960, where he attended Phoenix Union and South Mountain High Schools before joining the United States Marine Corps at age 18.

Tom honorably served in the USMC infantry during the Vietnam War (India Company, 3rd Bn., 1st Marines), earning a number of medals including the Purple Heart, awarded for injuries sustained while recovering fallen and injured comrades during a hot extraction in Operation Utah in the northwestern Quang Ngai Province of South Vietnam March 4 to March 7, 1966.

Returning stateside, he married Linda Olivito on June 28,1966 and spent his last two years of service as a Construction Draftsman with the Marine Corps Headquarters Company at Camp Pendleton, California. He retired as a Sergeant (E-5), returned to Phoenix, and embarked on a productive and storied 30+ year career doing significant work across Arizona, California, and many other states as a Sheetmetal Journeyman with Local 359. A highly regarded Tradesman and hard worker his whole life, Tom was the ultimate provider and protector, as well as an ardent painter. His work can be found in private and public collections throughout Arizona and neighboring states.

He will always be remembered for the sacrifices he made for our country, as Vietnam never left him. “Oorah!”, Marine.

Tom is survived by his wife, children, grandchildren, great-granddaughter, and a younger brother and sister. He is predeceased by his father, mother, and twin brother.

Committal Services with Military Honors will be held Monday, November 16, 2026, at 11:00 am at Southern Arizona Memorial Cemetery, 1300 South Buffalo Soldier Trail, Sierra Vista, AZ 85635. Guests should plan to arrive no later than 10:40 am.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Soldier’s Best Friend (https://soldiersbestfriend.org/) or The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.