Burgess III, Thomas Dickinson (Tom)

Thomas Dickinson (Tom) Burgess III, 73, of Wickenburg, Ariz., and formerly of Narrows, Va., passed away on April 29, 2010, at his home in Wickenburg. Tom was born in Williamson, W.Va., on February 15, 1937, and was the son of the late Cornelius Jefferson Burgess and Elaine Waybright Burgess. He was reared and educated in the Narrows community and received his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Education from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. He taught Agricultural Education in the public schools of Pittsylvania and Rockingham Counties in Virginia for 31 years. Upon retirement in 1991 he returned to Narrows and became involved in community activities and organizations. In 1992 he was elected to the Narrows Town Council. Memberships included the New River Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, The Narrows Lions Club, Giles County Chamber of Commerce, and PINN (Progress in Narrows Now) organizations, Blacksburg Sports Club, Virginia Tech Alumni Association and the Hokie Club. He was also a life member and held office in numerous state and national professional education organizations. In 1960 he married Diana Faye Moore, of Harrisonburg, Va., and four children resulted from this union. The children are Tanya Danielle Burgess, of Linville, Va., Thomas Dickinson Burgess IV (Manoli), of Woodstock, Va., Jefferson Moore Burgess, of New Market, Va., and Diana Layne Burgess Ballard (Jay), of Mapleton, Utah; grandchildren, Kelsey, Alex and Blair Hulvey, Thomas D. Burgess IV, David Burgess and Heather Burgess, Jackson and Truman Burgess, Elizabeth, Virginia, Thomas, Robin, Spencer, Anna, and Jacob Ballard; and two great-grandsons, Thomas D. Burgess VI and Xavier Burgess. He is survived by current wife, Ruby Hancock Burgess, of Wickenburg, Ariz. A graveside service will be conducted 2 p.m. on Friday, May 14, 2010, at Birchlawn Burial Park in Pearisburg. In the event of inclement weather, the service will be held in Birchlawn Abbey. The family suggests memorial contributions be made in Tom’s memory to the Boys Scouts of America organizations. Wickenburg Funeral Home and Crematory in Wickenburg, Ariz., and Riffe’s Funeral Service in Narrows, Va., are serving the Burgess family. Online condolence messages to the family can be sent to www.riffes.com.