Thomas William Old

Thomas William Old of Roanoke, Va., the father, grandfather, greatgrandfather, brother, uncle and friend we dearly loved, passed away late on Tuesday, the first of December 2009, in Richmond, Va. We lost the irreplaceable center of our family and joyous light in our lives. His strong faith, optimism and perseverance will live on in our hearts forever. Tom lived 90 rich and full years. He was born on February 17, 1919, in Botetourt County, son of the late Samuel Tilden Old and Bessie Lavender Old. After serving his country in the United States Army, Tom attended Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University under the G.I. Bill, graduating with a degree in electrical engineering. In 1983 he retired as an Executive Vice-President of Appalachian Power Company in the Transmission and Distribution department. After retirement he enjoyed traveling abroad and within the United States and Canada with his wife, Ruth. He never lost his lifetime love for the mountains surrounding the Roanoke Valley.
An avid golfer, Tom was a charter member of Blue Hills Golf Club. He never met a stranger and was never at a loss for words. He was considered the grand "story teller" of the family. As a long time deacon and leader in his church, he was known for his resonating voice as narrator for Easter and Christmas cantatas. In recent years he became a charter member of the CommUnity Church in Salem, Va.
He is preceded in death by his loving wife of 66 years, Ruth Elise Jones Old. One of 10 brothers and sisters, he is also preceded in death by seven siblings. They are Leora Pearl Old, Howard Tilden Old, Vera Myrtle Old, Homer Carlton Old, Novella Maude Old Wertz Ratcliff Henderson, Della Ruth Old Herr and Thelma Lovena Old Turner. He is survived by his sister, Virginia Lavender Old Ferguson, of Roanoke, Va.; and his brother, Charles Madison Old, of New Castle, Va. He is also survived by his two daughters, Leigh Old Kerkam and husband, William Barron Kerkam III, of Richmond, Va., and Yolanda Old Litton and husband, John Alexander Litton, of Durham, N.C.; four grandchildren, Catherine Parris Kerkam, of Washington, D.C., William Barron Kerkam IV and wife, Karen Evans Kerkam, of Richmond, Va., Bryan Alexander Litton and wife, Rebekah Aiken Litton, of Raleigh, N.C., and William Edward Litton, of Chicago, Ill. His two surviving great-granddaughters are Elizabeth Chandler Kerkam and Ashton Juliet Kerkam, of Richmond, Va.
The family will receive friends on Friday, December 4, 2009, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Oakey's North Chapel at 6732 Peters Creek Road, Roanoke, Va. His funeral service will be held at noon on Saturday, December 5, 2009, at Oakey's North Chapel with interment to follow at Blue Ridge Memorial Gardens at 5737 Airport Road, Roanoke, Va. Those preferring memorials, please consider The CommUnity Church of Salem, Va.