Rev. Thomas Benjamin Bagnal, Jr

The Rev. Thomas Benjamin "Tom" Bagnal, Jr., 87, of Mount Airy, died Friday, February 28, 2014, at Northern Hospital of Surry County. The Rev. Bagnal was born March 16, 1926, in Forsyth County, the son of the late Thomas Benjamin and Phonsa Perry Bagnal. The Rev. Bagnal graduated from Reynolds High School in Winston-Salem in 1944, and then he attended Wake Forest University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He received his Bachelor of Religion from Union Theological Seminary in Richmond, VA. He first served as pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Clemmons, where he and his congregation built the church's first sanctuary. He came to Mount Airy in 1966, where he served as pastor at First Presbyterian Church until 1971. He joined Quality Mills, Inc. as their personnel director and retired from Renfro Corporation as vice president of human resources. Tom served his community in many capacities as a commissioner for the City of Mount Airy, a teacher at Surry Community College, chairman of the Mount Airy Public Library, and a newspaper columnist. He had a love of writing and authored two books. Tom was a veteran of the United States Navy during World War II. After his retirement, he stayed active in his ministry, serving as interim minister for First Presbyterian Church in Elkin and Flat Rock Presbyterian Church in Mount Airy. He is survived by three daughters and sons-in-law, Cathy and Wilborn Rives of Mount Airy, Leslie and Bradley Peavy of Burlington, and Libby and Jimbo Pell of Mount Airy; a son, Ben Bagnal III of Mount Airy; ten grandchildren, Issac Rives, Catherine Rives, Robbie Rives, Will Rives, Elizabeth Peavy Tabor and her husband, Forrest, Alex Peavy and his wife, Collins Peavy, Grace Peavy, Eric Peavy, Laura Pell, and Lizzie Pell; and a sister, Jane Bagnal Wilson and her husband, John J. Wilson, of Manning, SC. In addition to his parents, the Rev. Bagnal was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Catherine Geddings Bagnal. A memorial service will be held Monday, March 3, 2014, at 3:00 PM at First Presbyterian Church in Mount Airy, with Dr. Rob Evans and Mrs. Shasta Bode-Brown officiating. The Bagnal family will receive friends in the church's fellowship hall on Monday from 1:30 until 3:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Mount Airy Public Library, 145 Rockford Street, Mount Airy, NC 27030. Moody Funeral Services in Mount Airy is serving the Bagnal family.