Thomas Riley Inman

Thomas R. Inman, age 90 of Colfax, NC, and formerly of Stuart, VA, passed peacefully into Heaven on July 15, 2025.

He was born in Greensboro, NC, on January 11, 1935, the son of Thomas R. Inman and Daisy Bowman Inman, who preceded him in death. He married the love of his life, Donella Atkins Inman on August 24, 1957. She survives at the home.

Thomas was a graduate of Stuart High School, Stuart, VA, and Draughon Business College in Winston Salem, NC. He completed graduate courses at Northeast University School of Management, Boston, MA; Donaldson Brown School of Management at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA; and Textile Industrial Operations at Clemson University in Clemson, SC.

Thomas was retired from United Elastic Corp. and J.P. Stevens Inc. as a cost accountan t and later operated TRI Data Services and was co-owner of Spring Drug Inc. in Patrick Springs, VA. He served in the U.S. Army in Korea in the 7th Combat Infantry Division in the Demilitarized Zone in the 1950s and received an honorable discharge. He was a Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7800 and member of American Legion Post 105. He served many years on the Patrick County Veterans Memorial Honor Guard and was honored in 2018 as Grand Marshall of the Patrick County Veterans Day Parade.

Thomas was a member of Stuart Baptist Church for over 50 years and served as Sunday School Teacher, Deacon, Treasurer, Chair of the Church Council and Delegate to the Baptist General Association of Virginia for more than 25 years.

Thomas was a member of Mountain Home Masonic Lodge #263 in Stuart, VA, for over 40 years and served as the Worshipful Master and as District Deputy Grand Master. Other civic service included membership in Stuart Rotary Club for almost 50 years and recipient of its highest award Paul Harris Fellow. He served for many years as General Manager of the Patrick County Agricultural Fair and was a lifetime member of the Virginia Association of Fairs. He was a member of the Boy Scouts of America and received the BSA’s highest award, the Silver Beaver.

Survivors in addition to his wife are one daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer Leigh Inman Nelson and Paul of Elizabethton, TN; one son and daughter-in-law Thomas Riley Inman, III, and Rosemary (Vipperman) of Colfax, NC, grandchildren, Whitney Marie Nelson, of Mooresville, NC; Thomas Riley Inman, IV, and wife, Stephanie (Major) of High Point, NC; Davis Patrick Inman and wife, Ashley (Evans) of Asheboro, NC; great-grandchildren Sarah Grace Inman and Jonah Luke Inman of High Point, NC; one sister, Mary Etta Inman Wilson of Burlington, NC; two sisters-in-law, Louise Atkins Simmons of Woolwine, VA, and Edna Mae Wood Atkins of Ridgeway, VA; several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.

The funeral service will be held Friday, July 18 at 2:00 p.m. at the Moody Funeral Home Chapel in Stuart, VA, with Pastor Terry Smith officiating. Burial will follow in Patrick Memorial Gardens with a presentation by the Patrick County Veterans Memorial Honor Guard. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Pallbearers are Riley Inman, Davis Inman, Keith Wilson, Gary Atkins, Steve Morris, Harold Hall, Marvin Conner, and David White.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to Patrick County Veterans Memorial Honor Guard, 7888 Woolwine Highway, Woolwine, VA 24185.

Moody Funeral Home in Stuart, VA, is in charge of the arrangements and online condolences may be made by visiting www.moodyfuneralservices.com.