Thomas Hefner

11/07/1925 - 12/03/2025

Thomas "Tom" Reeder Hefner, 100, of Gaithersburg, MD, passed away peacefully at Asbury Methodist Village on December 3, 2025. He was born on November 7, 1925 in Akron Ohio to the late Opal and Paul Reeder Hefner.
Tom grew up in Moundsville, West Virginia and graduated from Moundsville High School in 1943. He then embarked on a lifetime of hard work, patriotism, charitable work and a commitment to improving life for others.
Tom joined the Army Air Corps in 1943 and was called to active duty in January 1944. He served as a Sargent in the US Army Air Corps, 345th Bomb Group and was deployed to the Pacific Theater in WWII where he saw combat. Tom graduated from Marshall University in Huntington, WV in 1950 with a BS degree in Business Administration with a major in accounting. Tom married Jean Constance Kendle in 1950. His daughter Constance Sheridan Hefner was born March 31, 1958.
Tom had a long, fulfilling, and successful career. Tom joined the Government Employees Companies in 1951 and was elected Assistant Treasurer of Government Employees Life Insurance Company (GELICO) in 1958. He went on to become Vice President in 1964 and Senior Vice President, Administration, in 1972. He was elected to the board in 1973 and became Executive Vice President in 1974. He was President and CEO of GELICO and Government Employees Life Insurance Company of New York (GELICONY) from 1975 to 1981. Legal and General of the UK acquired both companies and became Banner Life Insurance Company. Tom retired in 1982 as Vice Chairman of Banner Life Insurance Company.
Tom's interests were wide ranging. He liked to golf, play basketball, go to the gym and spend time with his family and friends. He was a member of the Boy Scouts Executive Council of the National Capitol area and served as Chairman of the Health and Safety Committee. Tom and Jean had an unwavering faith and were very involved in their church. They were both early sponsors of the Wesley Theological Seminary Dadian Gallery in Washington DC. They were avid supporters of the arts and endowed an art exhibit at the gallery every three years, in memory of their daughter Constance. Tom was active in the life, leadership and ministry of Woodside United Methodist Church in Silver Spring, MD where he served as co-chair of the Finance Committee, Chairman of the Permanent Endowment Fund Committee and as a member of the Administrative Board.
Tom was forever dedicated to Asbury Methodist Village (AMV) in Gaithersburg, MD. He served on the AMV Board of Directors for 28 years and served as Chairman from 1988-1991 during the construction of the Diamond building and the Hefner Community Center building which was so named in 1994 in recognition of Tom's dedication and commitment to AMV. In 1986 Tom served as Chairman of the Committee to study admissions requirements and he was instrumental in implementing positive reforms in the admissions process. From 1990 -1995 Tom served on the Endowment Campaign Committee and received the Francis Asbury Benevolent Care Award which recognized his personal generosity to the Benevolent Care Fund. Though humble and not seeking recognition, Tom has been recognized many other times throughout his life for his generosity and commitment to making life better for those around him.
Tom was preceded in death by his loving wife of 66 years, Jean Hefner, and his beloved daughter, Constance Hefner, his two sisters, Rosemary Kirschner and Colleen Carmichael, his brothers-in-law, James Kirschner and Robert Carmichael and two nieces, Ruth Ann Carmichael McCulley and Susan Lynn Carmichael. He is survived by his nieces Catherine and Carol and nephews, Thomas, Robert and Edward.
A memorial service to honor Tom will be held at a later date. Private interment will be held in St. Albans, West Virginia. To honor Tom's generous and caring spirit and to help continue his legacy, in lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made in Tom's memory to: AMV Foundation Benevolent Care Fund, 201 Russell Avenue, Gaithersburg, MD 20877.