Tom, a self-proclaimed “mountain boy,” husband, father of two sons, Noel, Evan, and “Paw Paw” to two granddaughters, Lola and Cecile, (children of Evan and wife Carly), was born to Claude “Jack” and Eva Lynnwood Kidd and raised in Christiansburg, Virginia.
He graduated from Christiansburg High School (1966), attended Montreat College, and joined the US Navy (1969) to explore the world. He fell in love with the first responder life-style, serving as a corpsman, and also fell in love with Susan Rodgerson while stationed in Portsmouth, Virginia. They were married in 1972.
After the Navy, Tom began a thirty-one year career with Norfolk Paramedical Rescue Service, attaining the rank of Lieutenant, and also served on the Nightingale Rescue Helicopter crew and the CHKD Neonatal Transport team. T.K. later finished his career “on the street,” patrolling the city in his “zone car,” and remained in Norfolk for the rest of his life.
During retirement, he taught the next generation of medics at Tidewater Tech. Then he worked for ten years as a security guard at Sentara Virginia Beach Hospital.
Tom loved the Lord and his family. He was raised in Christiansburg Presbyterian Church, and became a member of Ingleside Church, Norfolk. There, he served in the choir and as a deacon. He loved people, hunting at the Christiansburg Hunt Club, fishing on Claytor Lake at the Montgomery Country Fish & Game Club, teaching, and was an avid sports fan.
Over the last five years, Tom fought a hard battle with Leukemia, finally finding himself in the loving hands of the Great Physician. Tom’s faithful anchor held strong and he passed down his faith and love to his family, friends and those he met along life’s path. He will be terribly missed.
There will be a Celebration of Life starting at 6pm, Friday, June 23, 2023 at Woodlawn Funeral Home. There will be a visitation and reception for 2 hours prior to the service to fellowship with the family. Interment will be at Roselawn Memorial Gardens, 2880 N. Franklin St., Christiansburg, VA 24013. Please offer your fondest condolences to the family on the funeral home website, www.woodlawnnorfolk.com.
