Tom M. Gummere

Thomas M. Gummere

1938 — 2026

Thomas M. Gummere, age 87, of Mechanicsville, Virginia, formerly of La Plata, Maryland, passed away peacefully on June 6, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy J. Gummere and Sarah R. Lodge Gummere; his cherished great-granddaughter, Eleanor Maeve Gummere; and his brothers, William “Bill” R. Gummere and his wife, Mary Jane, and Alan Lodge Gummere and his wife, Peg.

Tom devoted his career to public service as a Fingerprint Identification Specialist with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, work he took great pride in. After retiring from the FBI, he continued to keep busy with the Duffy Bus Company. He remained active throughout his life in organizations close to his heart, including the International Association for Identification (IAI) and the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE).

Tom was a man of wide-ranging curiosity and quiet passions. He loved working in his garden, tending his lawn, and spending countless contented hours riding his lawn mower. A lifelong history enthusiast and devoted reader, he never lost his hunger to learn or his delight in exploring the past. He had a deep and abiding love of horses — Percherons especially — which he proudly showed at county and state fairs. And he treasured his dogs, who brought him steady companionship and no shortage of joy.

Alongside Patricia, his beloved wife, Tom embraced life with a true spirit of adventure. Together they traveled the world, visiting England, Italy, Germany, France, Poland, Alaska, and Hawaii, and they especially loved riverboat cruises across the United States and the happy surprise of a good mystery trip.

Tom will be fondly remembered for his resourcefulness and his open-handed generosity. If anyone needed a tool or an odd item, they knew to come to him. “Wait, I might have something for that,” he’d say — and more often than not, he did. Whether it was a length of twine, a scrap of wood, an interesting rock, or some long-forgotten treasure tucked away in his garage, Tom always seemed to have exactly what was needed. His collection of useful odds and ends became something of a family legend, a reflection of his practical mind and his generous heart.

Above all, Tom loved his family. He is survived by Patricia A. Gummere, his loving wife of 66 years; his children, David T. Gummere and his wife, Helene, Pamela A. Jones and her husband, Tony, and Elizabeth M. Geddes and her husband, Tony; his grandchildren, Benjamin Gummere and his wife, Brittany, Madalyn Gummere, Owen Geddes, Sarah Jones; his great-grandson, Mickael Goldring, and many nephews and nieces.

Tom’s kindness, wisdom, humor, and unwavering devotion to his family will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who were lucky enough to know him.

A celebration of his life will be held at a later date.