Wilson, Thomas Greenwood
Thomas Greenwood Wilson, 62, of Blacksburg, VA died on June 6, 2020. He was born on July 4, 1957 in Marion, VA to James Franklin and Betty Lou Greenwood Wilson.
He was preceded in death by parents. He is also survived by his sister, Diane Wilson Catley, and brother-in-law Dennis Brian Catley, niece Jessica Ina Catley and nephew Bryan Thomas Catley.
Tom graduated from Marion Senior High School. He received a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Concord University and a Master’s degree in Educational Administration from Virginia Tech.
After graduation from Concord he served as band director, music teacher, and assistant basketball coach with the Highland County, VA public schools (1979-1981). After receiving his Master’s degree he went to work for the Virginia Tech Upward Bound and Talent Search programs, serving as counselor, assistant director and was named director of the programs in 1998. He retired from Virginia Tech in 2012. In retirement, he worked for Blacksburg Transit, then worked for Virginia Tech Undergraduate Admissions until May 2020.
Tom was passionate about educational opportunities for all students and worked through the programs to ensure that low-income and first-generation students in southwest and central Virginia had the opportunity to attend college.
He was recognized as a leader at the state and national levels with the federal TRIO programs. He twice served as president of the Virginia Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel, served two two-year terms on the executive board of the Mid-Eastern Association of Educational Opportunity Program Personnel, and in 2004, 2011, and 2012 was recipient of the Virginia Outstanding Service Award for service to the state and regional associations. Throughout the years he was a presenter, panel member, and moderator at state, regional, and national conferences.
He served as choir director at Luther Memorial Lutheran Church from 1987-2019. He also was known in the area for playing drums with a variety of local bands.
At Tech, Tom served on the Steering Committee for the Virginia Tech Commonwealth of Virginia Campaign. He served as faculty advisor for the Virginia Tech Alpha Sigma Phi Fraternity at its founding, a roll he maintained for over 10 years. He was an avid golfer and was an active fan of Virginia Tech and Concord University sports. A Golden Hokie, he was an active volunteer Hokie Representative and was a member of the Concord Mountain Lion Club.
A memorial service celebrating Tom’s life will be held at a later date at Luther Memorial Lutheran Church in Blacksburg, VA. Visitation with the family will follow the service in the church fellowship hall. All will be invited to attend and share memories.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Luther Memorial Lutheran Church.
Arrangements by McCoy Funeral Home, Blacksburg.
June 7, 2020 @ 8:32 pm
The world lost a great man.
June 7, 2020 @ 10:11 pm
You will certainly be missed.
Joel M. Brown
Upward Bound alumni
1980s
June 8, 2020 @ 8:39 am
So sad to hear of Tom’s passing but so blessed that he greatly impacted my life. My prayers go out to his family and all of his friends.
June 8, 2020 @ 9:19 am
A wonderful, wonderful person.
June 8, 2020 @ 9:45 am
Rest In Peace Tom. Thank you for being a positive role model to me. Outward Bound 1990-1994
June 8, 2020 @ 10:35 am
Such a great friend and mentor. He was instrumental i furthering my education. A great debt that i owe to him. Rest on my friend.
June 8, 2020 @ 9:47 am
The most caring, considerate and compassionate I know. What he has done for many will continue on. Upward Bound Alumni
June 8, 2020 @ 10:11 am
Tom was kind, insightful, brilliant, caring, loved his family and friends, and lit up any room her entered. We were friends from my student days at Virginia Tech and, as a farm boy from Southwest Virginia who got to go to college, I always had a personal appreciation for the impact of his work with Upward Bound (and got to know some of the kids he worked with over the years… still do). Tom’s life path is clearly marked by good deeds and the incredible impact he made on the lives of others. I will miss my Hokie brother, but memories of tailgates and great games in Orange and Maroon will always warm my heart. Cheer loudly from Heaven my friend… we will be listening.
June 8, 2020 @ 11:07 am
A wonderful loving man. There is no way to possibly measure the impact he had on his students and the world. He will be greatly missed. RIP.
June 8, 2020 @ 12:12 pm
Agree with everything shared. Tom made a real difference in this world. I am better for knowing him and and his family. Peace
June 8, 2020 @ 2:36 pm
I am so sad to hear of Tom’s passing. He was such a kind and genuine man that gave his heart and soul to inspire students like me to do well in life. He touched so many of us and I’m not sure he ever understood the level of impact. Nearly everyone I knew while in Upward Bound has gone on to be successful, upstanding individuals. Tom will be dearly missed and I know his amazing legacy will live on.
-UB Alum (1997-2001)
June 8, 2020 @ 2:47 pm
I was blessed to have know Tom. We met at VT as he drove buses for the university thru Fleet Services. I also was blessed to hear him play at different venues. Tom was always friendly and courteous. He enjoyed a good laugh and a GOOD joke. As others have said he will be missed.
June 8, 2020 @ 9:21 pm
Tom was such a wonderful man. He was very influential in my pre-college life. He will be forever missed. -UB Alum 1999-2003
June 8, 2020 @ 10:06 pm
Tom played a large part In the direction of my life, and in the lives of countless others. Thank you, Tom. You’re a good man. 🙏
June 8, 2020 @ 11:45 pm
I loved this man so much. He was my teacher, mentor and friend. When I was selected as the National TRIO achiever in 2003, I told the audience that the award is shared with 3 people: my parents and Tom Wilson. as time moves forward, I will try not to cry because his life here is over, and instead smile because it happened and I got to be a part of it. Rest in peace my friend.
June 9, 2020 @ 9:52 am
Deepest sympathy to the entire Wilson Family. I attended Concord College (University) with “Kink”. I was his pledge trainer.
I looked forward to Homecoming each October to see him and other Brothers.
He has now gone to the “Omega” Chapter with other Brothers.
This is a shock to the ASP Brothers and Sisters of CU.
Rest in Peace my Brother ❤❤❤🙏🙏🙏🤘🤘
John “Horse” Perrin #128
June 9, 2020 @ 8:56 am
I am saddened to hear of the passing of not only one of my classmates but one of my childhood friends. Tom was an easygoing guy. I don’t remember anyone not liking him. As a kid he was a pretty good athlete, too. We played on the same basketball team in the third grade and once beat a team 22-0. Tommy scored all 22 points! For years after that I liked to introduce him as “This is Tom Wilson. He led the nation in scoring as a third grader.” I don’t know if that was exactly true but he dominated the Marion Recreation league that year. My deepest sympathy goes out to his sister Diane and her family for the loss of one of the real good guys.
June 9, 2020 @ 10:16 am
To Diane, I am so sorry for your loss. So much loss in your family. I am sending prayers.
Tommy will always be Tommy to me, not Tom. He was such a sweet kind person. I always enjoyed visiting with him at our class reunions. And to read all the good he did – his sweetness was clearly deeply genuine. I feel sorrow at his passing and at the missed opportunity to know him better over time. I do believe he is free and joyous and at peace – and leading the way for all of us MSHS Class of ’75ers. I know we will honor him whenever we gather again.
June 9, 2020 @ 2:40 pm
I was certainly at a loss of words when I learned that Tom had passed. I remember that he was a very genuine, happy and friendly person. As part of the “Wassona Park Gang”, he was always one of first to show up when the call went out for a pick up game of basketball. You always wanted to be on his team, that way you didn’t have the chore to guard him. Tom was one of the few folks that you never heard a harsh word about, just an outstanding person. Sadly, I was looking forward for a chance of seeing him at our next reunion. Diane, I am truly sorry for your loss., he will be missed by many. With everything going in the world these days, we need more people like Tom. I see that he was a very involved, generous person who left many of his friends and colleagues in disbelief.
June 10, 2020 @ 2:13 pm
Tom was a great guy and a good supervisor. His enthusiasm and genuine concern for the less fortunate will be sorely missed. Rest in peace old friend. I will continue to strive to help those who are in need and provide opportunities to those who would under normal circumstances not have any. Your presence will be missed!
June 10, 2020 @ 3:23 pm
Our deepest condolences to his family and friends – from entire team at Compansol
June 12, 2020 @ 7:15 am
A gentleman and genuinely fine man. I was saddened to hear the news. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. May the God of peace sustain the family during this time.
June 22, 2020 @ 9:00 pm
I was stunned to read of Mr. Wilson’s passing. He hired me as a tutor and then Saturday teacher for Upward Bound when I was working on my undergraduate degree at Virginia Tech. He was a humble man that gave me space to excel and grow. His letters of recommendation helped me obtain my first jobs in the workforce. God definitely welcome home one of his greatest gifts!
July 5, 2020 @ 11:31 am
Tom was a friend and colleague. Always smiling, we traveled together every month in the four years I worked for Educational Talent Search. He cared deeply about his family, his students, his friends and his beloved pups. He loved to watch the Hokies play as well as Concord. Tom also had a beautiful voice, and I remember him singing “Bring Him Home” from Les Miserables at the Upward Bound/Educational Talent Search talent show. He also loved playing with his band. I’ll miss his smile and affable personality; Tom was a pal of all who knew him.