Thomas Leland Brake was born July 10, 1937 to Donald and Ruth (O'Dea) Brake in Columbus, Ohio. He went home to be with to be with his Lord on Saturday, December 21, 2024.

He graduated from St. Charles High School in 1955. He attended Ohio State University studying Mining Engineering and worked for 6 months in a coal mine in West Virginia. He joined the U.S. Navy in 1959 and served 3 years aboard the U.S. Forrestal. He earned an Associate Degree in Electronics from Columbus Institute of Technology, then worked at Sandia Lab in Albuquerque, NM. After earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree from WNMU, he taught Math and Science at Silver High School in Silver City, NM. He then earned both a Bachelor and a Master of Science of Engineering from NMSU. After receiving his engineering degrees, he worked for the U.S. Geological Survey in Farmington, NM, the U.S. Forest Service in Springerville, AZ, the Army Corps of Engineers in Galveston, TX, Johnson Control World Services in Los Alamos, NM and Los Alamos National Lab in Las Vegas, NV, on the Yucca Mountain Project. He retired from Los Alamos at the end of 2000 and returned to Silver City, where he started his own business, Gila Engineering and Testing. After 10 years he retired a second time.

He belongs to Engineering Ministries International and took two mission trips with the group. He went to Papua New Guinea in 1992 and Amazonia, Brazil in 1996.

He enjoyed bird watching, camping, hiking and square dancing. He really enjoyed learning and had a library full of books on many diverse subjects. He served on the Board of Trustees at the First United Methodist Church in Silver City, NM.

He was preceded in death by his parents, younger brother, Bill, and sister-in-law, Judy. He is survived by his wife, Linda and two nephews, Mike Brake of Sierra Vista, AZ and Scott Brake of Canton, MI.

Memorials may be made in his name to the Alzheimer's Association or the First United Methodist Church.
A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday, January 4, 2025 at 1:00pm at First United Methodist Church with Reverend Linda Fischer officiating. Thomas will also receive Full Military Honors.

Cremation will take place at Terrazas Crematory. Arrangements are with Terrazas Funeral Chapels and Crematory "Trust care for the ones you love" ~ 575-537-0777. To send condolences, visit www.terrazasfuneralchapel.com.