April 4, 1962 – Jan. 24, 2024

Warmhearted and having a loving zest for his family and service to the community, “T.J.” looked on the many blessings of his life with gratitude.

Born to Thomas and Jean Denton and the brother of three older sisters, T.J. grew up in Glendale. At Glendale High he was on the water polo and swim teams and enjoyed being a yell leader. He studied graphic art at San Jose State and quickly entered his parents’ business, Thomas Denton & Co., where he worked for over 30 years side-by-side with his best friend and beloved father Tom.

T.J. and Barbara Paddock met in first grade and begin dating in college. Married for 37 years, they delighted in and depended on one another through all of life’s highs and lows. Fated to be surrounded by women in his life, T.J. and Barb raised three daughters and in the last year became the grandfather of three granddaughters.

T.J. followed in his father’s footsteps by becoming a leader in both civic and church settings. He was a member of Kiwanis for 37 years and served as president and enjoyed being a reporter for its newsletter. He and Barb were dedicated to service at Salem Lutheran Church where he occupied many leadership positions, including president of the congregation and mentor to confirmation students. His favorite responsibility was educating the next generation of Sunday morning ushers.

T.J. is survived by his wife Barbara; his daughters Emily Dickinson (Jeremy), Shelby MacDonald (Kyle), and Elizabeth Denton (Tom); granddaughters Althea MacDonald, and Olivia and Evelyn Dickinson; and sisters Laura Johnson (Carl), Julie Denton (Darwin), and Kelly Denton-Borhaug (Gunnar); as well as many nieces and nephews and their children. His loved ones and friends feel the loss of his sweet and funny personality and are grateful for the sojourn we shared together.

Donations in his name may be sent to the Salem Lutheran Church Endowment (1211 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA 91202) or to The Glendale Kiwanis Endowment Scholarships (P.O. Box 10545, Glendale, CA 91209).

A memorial service will be held at Salem Lutheran Church, 1211 N. Brand Blvd. IN Glendale on Monday, Feb. 5, at 11 a.m.