Stump, Thomas Andrew

Thomas Andrew Stump, 85, formerly of Radford and Roanoke, Va., passed away Saturday evening, January 30, 2009, at Wheatland Hills Retirement Community, Christiansburg, Va., after a brief illness with Cancer and Alzheimer’s. He was born May 5, 1924, to the late Frank Elmer and Minnie M. Stump. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Frank E. Stump Jr.; three sisters, Katharine Stump, Elsie S. French, Eleanor S. Hetherington; and niece, Mary Louise B. Warner. He was a veteran of the United States Army during World War II serving from 1942-1945 with the 63rd Signal Operations Battalion, Company B (Staff Sergeant), in the European Theatre of Operations. He served as a telephone repeaterman installing, adjusting, and maintaining repeater and carrier equipment used in military long lines wire communication systems. After his Discharge from the Army, he was employed by the C&P Telephone Company in Roanoke-retiring after 35 years of service. He leaves behind to cherish his memory his “Sweetheart and Soul Mate” of 60 years, Margaret Helen Brooks Stump. They were married on February 14, 1949. He is also survived by nieces, Ann (Paul) Brown, Brenda (Wayne) Allums, Betty (Ken) Harrison, Wanda (Don) Wirt, Merlene (Don) Poff, Sandra (Charles) Brady, Margaret Susan Chesney, Linda Catrett, Debra (James) Alexander; nephews, Jerry (Penny) Brooks, L.H. Brooks Jr.; numerous great-nieces and great-nephews and great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews. Our family would like to send a very “special thank-you” to the following people: the staff at Wheatland Hills Retirement Community, Good Samaritan Hospice, and Dr. Clement Binnings and his nurses, Sandra and Barbara, at the Lee-Hi Medical Center in Salem. Your kind and compassionate tender loving care, help, and support during Tom’s illness meant so much to us. Also, we would like to thank our friends and family for their many acts of kindness shown to us. The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, February 3, 2010, in the Sherwood Abby Chapel, Salem, with the Rev. Terry Ross officiating. Burial will follow in the Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the funeral service. Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.HorneFuneralService.com. The Stump family is being served by Horne Funeral Service, Christiansburg.