Phipps Thomas Lawrence

Thomas Lawrence Phipps, 61, passed away suddenly on September 24, 2017. Devoted husband, music aficionado, sports fan, avid traveler, and incredible teacher, Tom moved to Charleston in 2012. Tom graduated from Lane High School in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 1974, and attended West Virginia University where he was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity. He ran a successful rug cleaning business for many years in Charlottesville, but sold the business to follow his passion: teaching. A graduate of Mary Baldwin and University of Virginia, Tom taught elementary school in Henrico County, Virginia, and most recently at Malden Elementary, where he brought his music, love of reading and curiosity of science to the delight of his students. Tom's love of travel took him to Scotland and most U.S. states, but his most proud adventure was a motorcycle trip to Woodstock. He loved Cape Lookout, North Carolina, where he proposed to his wife, Alisa Bailey. They were married on the banks of the James River by then-First Lady Ann Holton and later celebrated their bond at a ring ceremony on the rim of the New River Gorge. Although he grew up in Charlottesville, he had a passion for West Virginia and spent many of his summers in his parents' hometown of Hinton. He had a vast collection of music he described as "every song you never heard of," and spent many a pleasant evening on his deck listening to public broadcasting stations. Often called "the dog whisperer" Tom always had a canine companion. He was preceded in death by his mother, Kellan Phipps. He is survived by his father, Paul Phipps; sisters, Teri Phipps and Sally Walton; his step-daughters, Cassady and Greer Bailey; his step-daughters, Shannon and Heather O'Farrell; his grandchildren, Finn and Blue; his step-children, French and Shannon Grimes; his loving wife, Alisa; and his two dogs, Roxie and Mickey-boy. A celebration of his life will take place Saturday, September 30, 2017, at J.Q. Dickinson Salt Works at 1:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to Malden Elementary School, 4001 Salines Drive, Charleston, WV 25306. You may email your condolences to the family at www.barlowbonsall.com