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Thomas”Tom” Lawrence Kessinger

Date of Death: January 30, 2011

Thomas Lawrence “Tom” Kessinger

Thomas Lawrence “Tom” Kessinger, 77, of Winchester, Virginia, passed Sunday, January 30, 2011 in Blue Ridge Hospice Residential Center.

Mr. Kessinger was born in 1933 in White Sulpher Springs, West Virginia, the son of the late Lawrence Kessinger and Virginia I. and Clayton Gill. He retired in 1995, from Carpenters Union Local 132. Mr. Kessinger volunteered at Winchester Medical Center for 14 years as a driver, where he accumulated 5000 hours. He was a member of the Golden Age Passport Camping Club. Mr. Kessinger was a veteran, having served in the United States Air Force, during the Korean War.

His wife Joan Marie Martin, whom he married in April of 1968, preceded him in death in 1991.

Surviving is his lifetime companion, Flo Bryan of Winchester, Virginia; eight children, Christine Nance and her husband, Scott, Victoria Ritchie, Robin Butler and her companion, Ed Warring, and Content Ritchie, all of Calvert County, Maryland, Bobby Ritchie of Hollywood, Maryland, Brian Kessinger, Sr. and his companion, Lisa Lyon of Winchester, Virginia, Tommy Kessinger, and Gary Kessinger; seventeen grandchildren, twenty great grandchildren, and one great great grandchild. A sister, Patricia Detamore, preceded him in death.

A funeral service will be conducted at 2 PM on Thursday at Stephens City United Methodist Church with Reverend Jeff Butcher officiating. Entombment will be in Shenandoah Memorial Park Mausoleum with Military Honors by VFW Post 2123.

Pallbearers will be Brian Kessinger, II, Sean Kessinger, Shawn Butler, Jake Bowen, Tony Smith, and Scott Nance. Honorary Pallbearers will be Clark Curtis , Ed Warring, Thomas Butler, and Donald Bowen.

The family will receive friends an hour prior to service at Stephens City United Methodist Church.

Memorial contributions may be made to Stephens City United Methodist Church Building Fund, PO Box 428, Stephens City, Virginia 22655 or to Blue Ridge Hospice, 333 W. Cork Street, Suite 405, Winchester, Virginia 22601.

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Thomas Lawrence “Tom” Kessinger Thomas Lawrence “Tom” Kessinger, 77, of Winchester, Virginia, passed Sunday, January 30, 2011 in Blue Ridge Hospice Residential Center. Mr. Kessinger was born in 1933 in White Sulpher Springs, West Virginia, the son of the late Lawrence Kessinger and Virginia I. and Clayton Gill. He retired in 1995, from Carpenters UnionContinue Reading

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Frank left a message on January 30, 2013:
Dear Flo and Tom's Family, I think for the past few weeks all of us have known that this day would soon come but when it happens it still is a shock. Flo, when I talked to Tom last week he was still trying to be the strong guy he always had been. You know, Tom and I went through 12 years of school together and I don't think we ever had cross words. Tom was just what you saw at first glance, a good friend who would do anything for you, all you had to do was ask. I remember when we were about 14 or so, I had my Dad's old truck and with no drivers license we had to ford the creek to avoid White Sulphur's police force which was 2 at that time. I got the truck stuck in the creek and Tom was helping push me out, unfortunately when the truck started moving I covered Tom with dirt, gravels, and water, all over his nice clean clothes his Mom had just done up for him and when he went home and had to tell his Mom that he was with an unlicensed driver, he never let me forget that I owed him "Big Time". Flo, Shirley and I have called as many class mates and friends as we could and they were all heart broken. The picture of Tom is exactly what we all remember, a great, fun loving happy guy. In Tom's mempry the WSS Class of 1953 will be placing a memorial marker in the Civic Center Patio. We can't think of anything more fitting to honor Tom than to place this marker at the school he loved in the town he loved. Tom will be truly missed by all of us but thank God, he is out of pain and suffering and whenever I go to Blue Bend I know he won't be far away. Frank
Frank Collins left a message on February 1, 2011:
Dear Flo and Tom's Family, I think for the past few weeks all of us have known that this day would soon come but when it happens it still is a shock. Flo, when I talked to Tom last week he was still trying to be the strong guy he always had been. You know, Tom and I went through 12 years of school together and I don't think we ever had cross words. Tom was just what you saw at first glance, a good friend who would do anything for you, all you had to do was ask. I remember when we were about 14 or so, I had my Dad's old truck and with no drivers license we had to ford the creek to avoid White Sulphur's police force which was 2 at that time. I got the truck stuck in the creek and Tom was helping push me out, unfortunately when the truck started moving I covered Tom with dirt, gravels, and water, all over his nice clean clothes his Mom had just done up for him and when he went home and had to tell his Mom that he was with an unlicensed driver, he never let me forget that I owed him "Big Time". Flo, Shirley and I have called as many class mates and friends as we could and they were all heart broken. The picture of Tom is exactly what we all remember, a great, fun loving happy guy. In Tom's mempry the WSS Class of 1953 will be placing a memorial marker in the Civic Center Patio. We can't think of anything more fitting to honor Tom than to place this marker at the school he loved in the town he loved. Tom will be truly missed by all of us but thank God, he is out of pain and suffering and whenever I go to Blue Bend I know he won't be far away. Frank
Spring Newlin left a message on February 1, 2011:
In honor of Thomas"Tom" Lawrence Kessinger, Spring Newlin lit a candle.
Omps Funeral Home left a message:
Please accept our deepest condolences for your family's loss.
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