Mr. Thomas Eddie Tatum, Sr

Mr. Thomas Eddie Tatum, Sr. age 88 of Trent Store Community in Virginia went to his Lord on Saturday, August 29, 2015 at The Blue Ridge Therapy Connection in Stuart. He was born in Davidson County, NC on September 11, 1926 to the late Eddie Penn Tatum and Bessie Wagner Tatum. In addition to his parents, Mr. Tatum was preceded in death by his beloved daughter, Dianne Tatum Meyers.
Mr. Tatum is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Rebecca Hylton Tatum of the home; his children, Revonda Tatum Mosser and husband, Lennie of Salem, Virginia, Thomas Eddie Tatum, Jr. and wife, Julie of Midlothian, Virginia, a son-in-law, Timothy Andrew Meyers of Harrisonburg, Virginia and Mary Tatum Hart and husband, John of Stockbridge, Massachusetts; grandchildren, Lindsay, Jason, Aaron, Wes, Will, Mary Beth, Katie, Hunter, Patrick, and Ryan; and great-grandchildren, Taylor, Ava, Zachary, Camryn, Jackson, and Claire.
He faithfully served his country in the Army during WWII stationed in Okinawa, Japan and Seoul, Korea. He was an Armed Forces radio announcer which led to a broadcasting/engineering career at various radio stations for 19 years including WHEE in Martinsville. Later he taught electronics at Fieldale Collinsville High School for 15 years. Upon retirement he was elected to the Patrick County School board serving for 8 years.
His passions were playing the piano and singing, both talents acquired from his mother Bessie who taught piano and voice in Patrick and Henry Counties for many years. He also loved raising his Black Angus cattle on his Patrick County Farm.
Visitation for Mr. Tatum will be held on Thursday, September 3, 2015 at 3:00 with funeral services following at 4:00 pm at Moody Funeral Home Chapel in Stuart with Rev. Doug Ramsey and Pastor Dereck Futrell officiating. Military rites will be conducted by the Patrick County Veterans Memorial Honor Guard. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Mountain Valley Hospice and Palliative Care, 18981 Jeb Stuart Hwy., Stuart, Virginia 24171 or to Hillcrest Baptist Church, 18075 A. L. Philpott Highway, Ridgeway, Virginia 24148. Online condolences may be sent by visiting www.moodyfuneralservices.com.