Obituary of Thomas R. "Tommy" Willard

MARION, Va.

Thomas R. “Tommy” Willard, age 53, passed away Sunday, May 12, 2019.

Tommy was one of a kind! From his school days he was a bright spot wherever he was. Tommy was an unbelievable musician – from the sax to the electric guitar. After graduating from Marion Senior High, Tommy went to Elon College majoring in music. He spent his work life using his brain fixing robots and computers. Several of his former employers have mentioned that Tommy was one of the most intelligent people they’d ever worked with. If you needed something fixed, Tommy was the guy. He was a proud and treasured member of the NASCAR family and was active on a racing pit crew with his brother. Sunday morning, the world lost a man who would help anyone and was deeply cared for and will be missed by his brother and sister-in-law.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Franklin W. Willard and Helen P. Willard; and his grandparents.

Tommy is survived by his brother, Charles Franklin Willard and wife, Sandy of Marion, Va.; numerous cousins; many special friends to include George Wolfe and Dr. Kevin Wolfe; and his beloved cat, Miss Minnie.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, May 15, 2019 at 7 p.m. at Seaver-Brown Chapel. Graveside services will be held Thursday, May 16, 2019 at 11 a.m. at Rose Lawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends Wednesday, from 5 p.m. until the time of service.

In lieu flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Smyth County Humane Society, P.O. Box 1124, Marion, Va. 24354.

To share memories of Thomas R. “Tommy” Willard, please visit www.seaverbrown.com. Care for Tommy’s family has been entrusted to Seaver-Brown Funeral Service and Crematory, 237 East Main Street, Marion Va. 24354.