Thomas Gilkeson

Thomas Lynn Gilkeson, 85, passed away at home on Sunday, November 1, 2026. Born October 1, 1941, to the late Stoughton Emerson and Mirlie Mae Wilt Gilkeson, Tom was raised and made his home in Lilly Park of Rainelle, WV. A proud 1959 graduate of Rainelle High School, he served on the reunion planning committee and treasured the opportunities to catch up with his classmates.

Tom was preceded in death by five brothers, Sam, Skip, Fred, Lawrence and Jim Gilkeson, and two sisters, Freda Keeney and Louise Deaver. He is survived by his son, Tag Gilkeson, and his children, Victoria and Tristan Gilkeson. He is also survived by his adoring daughter, Tara Lynn Sorrells, her husband Ryan, and their daughters, Stella and Carra, as well as his former wife of 33 years, Brenda Gilkeson.

His surviving siblings are Thelma Jean Johnson, Kitty Phillips and Butch Gilkeson. To more than 120 nieces and nephews across three generations, he was affectionately known as Uncle Tom. Among them is his niece and special sidekick, Loretta Foley.

Tom served honorably in the United States Army from 1961 to 1964, serving in Korea and Vietnam as crew chief aboard a CH-37 helicopter. In Vietnam, he and his crew helped recover downed aircraft. He earned the Air Medal three times, a distinction marked by two oak leaf clusters, and also received the Good Conduct Medal and the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal. He qualified as a Sharpshooter with the rifle and as an Expert with the carbine. His general recognized his outstanding service in a letter of commendation.

A master plumber and backhoe operator, Tom owned and operated Gilkeson Plumbing & Heating, serving the Greenbrier Valley and surrounding communities until he retired at 80. He believed in doing the job right the first time and often braved harsh weather to make sure his customers’ heat or water was restored as quickly as possible. Tom had a soft spot for his older customers and made sure they were well taken care of. Through his work, including jobs at regional Army Reserve Centers, he made friendships he treasured for years.

Tom’s care for his community extended well beyond his work. In his early career, he was active in the Rainelle Rotary Club, Volunteer Fire Department and Chamber of Commerce. He volunteered with Toys for Tots in Rainelle for many years, taking special joy in helping to bring Christmas to local children. During the flood of 2016, he was involved with rescue efforts on the front lines alongside Rainelle’s 811th Command Center and received a certificate of appreciation for his service. For many years, Tom also worked alongside family at the Cattlemen’s Association Steak Wagon at the State Fair of West Virginia, bringing his strong work ethic and joy in serving others.

Tom never met a stranger, and if you were blessed to receive one of his hugs, you knew he gave the very best! He was patient and playful with children, and teasing was his own kind of affection. If Tom teased you, you knew he liked you. He put a lot of care into his garden and apple trees and became an outstanding cook later in life, taking pleasure in perfecting recipes for his lucky taste testers. In his younger days, he fished in Bassmaster tournaments, and in later years he enjoyed taking his granddaughters fishing.

Tom was a blessing to many. His family and friends will carry forward his legacy of love and laughter in the stories they tell and in the ways they show up for one another, just as he did.

Family and friends are invited to gather for visitation at Wallace & Wallace Funeral Home in Rainelle on Friday, November 13, from 6 to 8 pm. A service celebrating Tom’s life will be held at Wallace & Wallace on Saturday, November 14, at 11 am. Interment will follow at the Gilkeson Cemetery on the family farm on Loops Road.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites your consideration of a memorial gift to help establish the Thomas Lynn Gilkeson Memorial Scholarship Fund, which will support local students pursuing training in skilled trades. Contributions may be mailed to the Greenbrier Valley Communities Foundation, P.O. Box 1682, Lewisburg, WV 24901, or made online at gvfoundation.org. Please include the fund’s full name with your contribution. The family is grateful for every gift that honors Tom’s memory and helps a student build a career in the skilled trades he took such pride in.

Wallace & Wallace of Rainelle is in charge of arrangements.