Thomas Maurice Young

Thomas Maurice Young, 74, of Bluefield, West Virginia passed away at the Peyton Hospice House in Fairlea, West Virginia on Monday January 19, 2026. He was born on November 1, 1951, to the late Will Curry and Roberta "Mex" Young.

He was kindhearted to the people who knew him, and almost everyone in Bluefield knew old Tom. Thomas lived his life the way he wanted to live his life. He was an avid West Virginia University and Pittsburgh Steelers fan. He loved the mountains and would never leave his home state.

From Eric, "As I sit here with tears in my eyes, I am thankful that my dad and I had a special relationship. We argued as fathers and sons do, but with age came maturity on both of our parts. We put the past in the past and never let a phone call go, me dropping him back off at his apartment, or just dropping by to see him, go without telling each other we love one another. This past Friday, I made it to the hospital, and he was so happy to see me. The nurses told me he hadn't been up since he got to the CCU, and now he was up and talking. He rose up in bed and gave me a hug and talked to me and my cousin R. Shanklin for a few hours. When it was just me and him in the room later that day, he was the dad I remembered as a little kid, the one who I thought the sun rose with and the moon fell with. He told me not to do the things that had led him to where he was right now. Take care of yourself, love my grandkids, be a good person, he told me. We laughed, he called his grandkids, brother, sister, nephews, nieces, and some friends. It was closure for him, I believe. God allowed us to have that time, and for that I am so grateful. And at the end, it was just me and him in a room. And I am proud that he was my dad, who truly lived his life the way he wanted to. Now these two are finally together again" - "Gwendolyn Young".

Thomas is preceded in death by his parents; his first wife Gwendlyn Young, his second wife Twanna Benson; brothers Robert Shanklin, Pete Shanklin, David Shanklin, and William Shanklin; and sister Barbara Young.

He is survived by his son Eric Lewis (Heather) of North Carolina; sister Carol Shanklin; Brother James Shanklin; grandchildren Shawn-Ta Brown, Eric Manns, Aaron Dickason, Jordan Lewis, Isiah Lewis; great grandchildren Aaron Dickason, Jr., Nathaniel Brown, Mason Brown, and Noah Manns.

A celebration of Tom's life will be held in the Spring.

The directors and staff of Smathers Funeral Chapel are honored to have been entrusted to care for Thomas and his family during their great time of need.

Online condolences may be made at www.smathersfuneralchapelinc.com