Thomas Cover Glass, 84 of Winchester, VA, passed away on Monday, January 27, 2025, at Avow Hospice House in Naples, Florida, surrounded by his loving wife and daughters.

Thomas was born April 7, 1940, in Winchester, VA, the son of the late Robert and Juanita (Aggie) Glass.

He was a proud graduate of Handley High School in 1958, where he was president of the student body, voted “best all around”, and was a member of the track and basketball teams. It was during his high school years that he discovered his love for pole vaulting. Tom was the track pole vault Virginia state champion in 1957 and 1958. He held the Handley pole vault record and the Virginia state record from 1958 to 1968. Tom was the first Judges Athletic Association Track Man of the Year in 1958, and he was elected to the Hunter Maddex Hall of Fame in 1990. His love of pole vaulting continued into his later years as he was able to help donate pole vault equipment to Handley, which helped two of his grandchildren, Mary McKay and Will McKay, to become Handley and Virginia state pole vault champions just like their grandfather.

After Handley, Tom went to the University of Maryland on a full track team scholarship, and he broke the Maryland Pole Vault record. At Maryland, he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta Fraternity, and he graduated in 1963 with a degree in civil engineering.

He was a proud member of the U.S. Marine Corps from 1963 to 1966, where he served as a 1st Lieutenant in Vietnam. He was also the All -Marine Pole Vault Champion.

Tom entered the work force in 1966 at Howard Shockey and Son, where he was a project manager and design engineer. He started his own engineering and land surveying company in 1971.
In 1972, Tom started his journey as a real estate builder and developer. He designed, built and owned Stone Brook Swim and Racquet Club from 1973 to 1983. He developed 226 lots surrounding Stonebrook and built 20 homes there. His next big project was Country Park Plaza Shopping Center, which he designed and built as well as the surrounding 100 lots and homes. Over time he has designed and built many different homes, including the one he lived in at Lake Saint Clair.

Tom was a member of the Rotary Club since 1967 and was a Paul Harris Fellow. He was a member of City Council from 1968 to 1978. He was past chairman of the Parks and Recreation committee and led the fight to approve the War Memorial Building.

In his free time, Tom loved spending time with his family, golfing with his friends and doing his workouts! He loved spending time in Naples, Florida during the winter months. He was always learning about something-the best way to exercise, the healthiest way to eat, the newest golf swing. He was full of life and love and will be deeply missed by all those who knew him!

He is survived by his wife, Amy Lynn Glass whom he married on September 17, 2022; daughters, Anne Glass Buettner, Kate Glass McKay (Ed), and Julie Moore Glass; and nine grandchildren, Zach Buettner (Elizabeth), Liza Phillips (Jack), Riley Buettner, Tommy McKay, Mary McKay, Will McKay, Taylor Barmak, Macy Barmak and Greyson Barmak. He is also survived by his brother George William Riley Glass, his sister, Julie Glass Paulette, and his first wife and the mother of his children, Sharon Moore Byrd. His second wife, Ruth Glass, preceded him in death.

A visitation for Tom will be held on Thursday, February 6, 2025, from 6pm to 8pm at Omps Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life service, followed by a reception, will take place on Friday, February 7, 2025, at 11 am at Omps Funeral Home, Amherst Chapel. Burial will be private.

Memorial contributions may be made in memory of Tom to Special Love at specialove.org.