Thomas Sutton, the longtime architect for The Newhall Land and Farming Company who helped shape Valencia, died Aug. 12 of a stroke. He was 84.

Sutton joined Newhall Land in 1963 and worked as the company architect until 1979, said Marlee Lauffer, company spokeswoman.

“He was a very important part of our Valencia story,” Lauffer said.

He remained part of company’s architectural review committee throughout the 1980s and early 90s.

Sutton’s role involved overseeing the planning of land, in addition to acting as supervising architect, said Tom Lee, a retired chairman and chief executive officer of Newhall Land who knew Sutton for 40 years.

Sutton had a role in designing centers and Valencia locations like the clubhouse at Vista Valencia Golf Course.

He had a hand in designing Valencia’s earliest paseos in the Old Orchard neighborhoods. Paseos are extended sidewalks that are built throughout neighborhoods for residents to use to walk and bike.

“He played a very important role in those years,” Lee said.

Local developer Jim Backer worked with Sutton from the late 80s to early ’90s and recalled his passion for architecture and dedication to making a place that people enjoyed.

“I always admired his commitment to that,” he said.

Backer and Lee will remember Sutton for his kind personality.

“He was wonderful,” Sutton said. “He was a very easy going, quiet kind of a guy. He was just a prince of a fellow.”

A memorial service for Sutton was held in August in Missouri.

The family asks that memorial donations be made to the American Cancer Society, 3322 S. Campbell, Suite B, Springfield, Missouri 65807.

Sutton is survived by numerous family members, including his wife, Karen, and two sons.