Lloyd Thomas (Tom) Bloyd

Lloyd Thomas (Tom) Bloyd (age 98) was born on September 10, 1925 In Hoopeston, Illinois and died December 2, 2023 in Lynchburg, Virginia. He was the son of William Thomas Bloyd and Daisy Bee Judd Bloyd. He is survived by 2 daughters, Donna Bloyd Tuley (Don) of Pontiac, Illinois, and Ellen Bloyd Beach Richardson of Hillsville, Virginia, 5 grandchildren: Amy Beach Crisp (Jerry) of Lynchburg, VA, Hillary Beach Culler (Jeff) of Hillsville, VA, Benjamin Thomas Beach (Megan) of Lynchburg, VA, Michael Ray Tuley (Kristin) of Pontiac, IL and Joshua Thomas Tuley of Pontiac, IL; 7 great grandchildren: Bayley Elizabeth Crisp Lindevaldson (Joshua), Taylor William Crisp, Isabella Lowe Crisp, Samantha Dawn Beach, Chloe Lynn Beach, and Sadie Grace Beach, all of Lynchburg, VA, Camden James Tuley of Pontiac, IL, sister-in-law Tammy Walker Bloyd of Omaha, Nebraska, and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of 67 years, Grace Marie Pyle Bloyd, 4 brothers: Troy (Vera), Glenn (Margaret), Lars, David (Tammy), 2 sisters: Erminee Bloyd Boughton (Stanley) and Inez Bloyd Ferrell (Dale), a niece, Linda Kay Bloyd, one great grandson, Dane Michael Tuley, and a great nephew, Eric Steven Lewis. Tom attended schools in Hoopeston, Illinois and graduated from John Greer High School in 1943. He proudly served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II in the South Pacific as a turret gunner on B24 aircraft. He held several jobs before beginning a career with the Spurgeon Mercantile Company stores. He was a store manager in Illinois, Wisconsin and Minnesota before being promoted and returning to Illinois to work as a buyer in their Chicago office. He retired after 40 years with the company. Tom was active in several churches throughout his life, often serving as Sunday School teacher, deacon, elder, and trustee. He was a popular greeter for 33 years at Blue Ridge Community Church in New London, Virgina, where he and Grace were members.  He hand wrote birthday cards and sent them to members of BRCC, often sending 450 cards every month. He continued to mentor younger Christians, sharing his godly wisdom and humor. He and Grace loved to entertain, and their home was a refuge and haven for many. He enjoyed time in his workshop, producing beautiful furniture, memo boxes, book boxes and other useful and special items. He also enjoyed golfing, hiking, reading, going to yard sales, and especially, camping with Grace in a series of trailers named the Tag-a-Long. A Celebration of life will be held at Blue Ridge Community Church (2361 New London Road, Forest, VA 24551) on Saturday, January 13, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. Burch-Messier Funeral Home in Bedford, VA is serving the family.