Thomas Lockwood McVay

Thomas Lockwood McVay, age 84, a lifelong resident of Tuscaloosa, Alabama died January 21, 2014. Visitation will be at 10 a.m., Saturday, January 25th, followed by a service at Memory Chapel Funeral Home located at 2200 Skyland Blvd with Dr. Timothy Lovett officiating. Burial will be at Evergreen Cemetery at approximately 12:30 p.m. Memory Chapel Funeral Home, a Dignity Memorial Provider, is directing.Tom graduated from Baylor Military Academy of Chattanooga, Tennessee in 1948. He attended the University of Alabama and worked for the U. S. Bureau of Mines for 38 years as a Metallurgist responsible for the safety of all coal and gold mines throughout the entire United States.Known for his love of history, and his extensive expertise as an appraiser of Civil War accoutrements and WWII collectibles, Tom spent time in Gettysburg as a historical appraiser for the Horse Soldier. He was instrumental in organizing the Flying Tigers AVG and CNAC 40th reunion in 1982, and devoted many decades to studying and researching history. He was also a member of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR). Along this journey, he made lifelong friends throughout the country who shared his passion for history.He was preceded in death by his mother and father, Dr. Thomas Newkirk and Leta McVay; sisters, Mary Jane McVay Allen and June McVay Veal. Tom is survived by his devoted wife of 63 years, Virginia Scott McVay; and his loving daughters, Bonnie McVay Teel Adams (John), and Susan McVay Graves (Timothy); grandsons, Ryan McVay Teel, Thomas Hunter Graves, and Kyle McVay Graves; granddaughter Marcia Teel Ridpath; and three great-grandchildren, Emily and Robert Teel, and Frankie Ellen Ridpath.Honorary pallbearers are Ryan Teel, Hunter Graves, Kyle Graves, Jay Greene, Glen Allen, Ken Veal, Harold Herglotz, and Heath Herglotz.