Thomas Lee Emerson

Thomas L. Emerson, 83, of Collinsville, died on Wednesday, November 9, 2022 at the Sovah Health - Martinsville Hospital. He was the husband of Madeline (Sowder) Emerson to whom he was married on January 12, 2007. Born in Henry County, Virginia on June 7, 1939, he was the son of the late Thomas Leonard Emerson and the late Virginia Lee (Rea) Emerson. He earned his Associate of Arts in Business Administration and Management from Fisher College and a Certificate in Tourism and Travel Services Management from Johnson & Wales University. Mr. Emerson joined the U.S. Army in 1956 and was a Veteran of the Vietnam War. He served honorably in the Army for 22 years, achieving the rank of Sergeant First Class. After retiring from the Army as a recruiter, he continued working as a Senior Technical Recruiter for EDA, Inc. until his retirement in 2003. He resided in Virginia since 2005, having previously lived in Massachusetts, Georgia, Germany, North Carolina, Vietnam, Korea, Alaska, and Virginia. Mr. Emerson and his late wife, Kathleen (Flannery) Emerson, were the owners and operators of the former Around the Globe Travel and Good Time Cruises that was founded in North Attleboro, Massachusetts in 1977. It was operated by the Emerson family until 1993. Since his time in the Army Signal Corps, he was an enthusiastic amateur radio operator. He volunteered to manage maritime emergency operation frequencies and was awarded a public service award by the American Radio Relay League for his communications work during the Great Blizzard of 1978 in Massachusetts. In addition to his wife of 15 years, he leaves a son, Sean C. Emerson and his wife, Susan L. (McKay) Emerson of Broad Brook, CT; a grandson, Matthew T. Emerson; a granddaughter, Megan R. Emerson; a stepson, Daniel Boothe; a stepdaughter, Donna (Boothe) Vernon; a stepdaughter Wendy (Boothe) Hankins and her fiancée Dan Goren; a brother, William Emerson; his dog, Max; and his beloved cat, Blackie. All service were private. Collins Funeral Home, 30 Riverside Drive, Bassett, VA is proudly serving the family. Online condolences may be made to www.collinsmckeestonebassett.com. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.collinsmckeestonebassett.com for the Emerson family.