Timothy A. Bamford

Timothy A. Bamford, 66, passed away on Thursday, February 1, 2024, surrounded by his loving family at his home in Wiesbaden, Germany.  He valiantly battled Glioblastoma for 16 months until he found eternal peace.  

He will be sorrowfully missed by his beloved wife of 38 years, Roswitha (née Freres) Bamford; his daughters Christina and husband Matt of Oregon, Ellen of Germany, Sonja and husband Patrik of Sweden; his three cherished grandchildren Lucas, William, and Sophia, his mother Gertrud of New Hampshire, his sister Monica of Virginia, his brother Christopher of New Hampshire, his nephew and nieces Michael, Jillian, and Elisabeth, as well as his loyal companion, his dog Fritz.  His father, Wilfred, and sister, Eva-Maria, preceded him in death.   

Tim was born on October 5, 1957, at Landstuhl Army Medical Center in Germany, to Wilfred and Gertrud (née Schattner) Bamford.  While growing up, his family moved six times throughout the US and Europe.  After 30 years of honorable service in the US Air Force, his father retired as SMSgt and finally settled in Salem, NH, in 1974.  

Tim graduated the class of '75 from Salem High School, where he played soccer.  He often spoke fondly of playing the role of Schroeder in his senior class play, 'You're a good man, Charlie Brown.' After high school, he attended the University of New Hampshire and graduated in 1979 with a BA in German and a minor in Forestry.  Soon after graduation, Tim traveled throughout Europe on a rail pass, enjoying the beauty and culture of places like Pompeii and Morrocco.  

In November 1981, Tim carried on the family tradition and enlisted in the US Air Force.  He was commissioned as an officer in April 1982 and was soon assigned to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany.  He needed a place to live, so the Military Housing Office suggested an apartment in the small town of Pickließem.  Little did he know then that he would fall in love with his landlady, Roswitha, and marry her in 1985.  By 1990, they were blessed with three daughters: Christina and twin girls, Ellen and Sonja.  

Following the end of the Cold War, he was honorably separated from the USAF in 1992, but his military service did not end there.  Until his death, the Department of the Army employed Tim and most recently assigned him to the 66^th MI Brigade in Wiesbaden, Germany.   Throughout his career, Tim's assignments moved him throughout Europe and the US, with several temporary duty assignments to Macedonia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, and Ukraine, earning him NATO Service Medals.  

The Space Race was an influential period of his childhood; he'd remind his daughters often that the Soviet Union launched the first satellite, Sputnik, into space the day before his birth, October 4, 1957, and that the Soviets completed the first spacewalk in 1965, the year his brother was born.  

Tim's greatest joys were often found in nature.  While living on base in Belgium, he planted trees next to his house to offer shade, and years later, they were still there and taller than the house.  He protected trees, much to the dismay of his daughters and neighborhood friends, who only wanted to climb them and build forts!   His dream for retirement was to move to Oregon, where he could discover the natural beauty offered by the Pacific NW…all by traveling in an RV!  

The funeral liturgy will be held on Thursday, February 22, 2024, at 1:30 PM, with a viewing scheduled at 12:30 PM.  Live streaming will be available at https://facebook.com/groups/timothyabamfordfuneraloregon2024/".

 Flowers and condolences may be delivered to Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery, 333 SW Skyline Blvd, Portland, OR 97221 (+1-503-292-6621).  Donations may be made to Roswitha Bamford or Christina Bamford and will help to cover funeral expenses and medical bills.  Please reach out to Christina (+1-971-275-7581) for details.   

Tim was repatriated to the US through Landstuhl, Germany; it is interesting how life sometimes comes full circle like that.  It is with heavy hearts that we now say goodbye to him.  His presence and impact on the lives of others will never be forgotten, and his spirit will continue to live on through his loved ones.  

Still waters ran deep in Tim.  Perhaps these quotes may offer a glimpse of the depth of his legacy:   

“Do not go gentle into that good night.  Rage, rage against the dying of the light.”
  - Dylan Thomas, 1951

“Education is the only gift I can always give you, because I don't have anything material to give.”  

          - Dieujuste Idrache, Port-au-Prince, Haiti

May Timothy A. Bamford rest in peace.