Obituary for
Thomas Paul "Tom" Dean
Thomas Paul "Tom" Dean, 67, of 1326 Forester Ave., Clifton Forge died Wednesday, July 20, 2016 at the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville, Virginia. He was born on October 31, 1948 in Clifton Forge, Virginia, a son of the late Aubrey Elbert and Jean McGovern Dean. He was a member of the St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Clifton Forge. Tom was a 1967 graduate of Clifton Forge High School and a1971 graduate of Catholic University of America in Washington D. C. Following his college graduation, he returned to Clifton Forge where he became a licensed real estate broker and a licensed property and casualty, life and health insurance agent and joined his father at Racey & Dean Inc. In 1997 Tom became president of Racey & Dean Inc., Tom served on the Alleghany Highlands School Board from 1986 to 1994 and on the Joint Board of Controls, Jackson River Technical Center and later served on the advisory board of the Jackson River Technical Center. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Alleghany Highlands Economic Development Authority having been appointed to this position by Governor's L. Douglas Wilder, George Allen and Jim Gilmore. He was a past president of the Clifton Forge Chamber of Commerce and the Clifton Forge Merchants and Professional Associates, past President of the Clifton Forge Kiwanis Club, the Cliftondale Country Club, Industrial Loan Co. of Clifton Forge, the Clifton Forge High School Alumni Association, and he currently served on the Advisory Board of the First Citizens Bank and Chairman of the Clifton Forge Industrial Development Authority. In 1999 Tom was named volunteer of the year by the Virginia Economic Developers Association. From 1976 to 1983, he was the voice of the Clifton Forge High School Mountaineers and announced the school's football and basketball games on behalf of WXCF radio station in Clifton Forge, he was a charter member of the Clifton Forge Titans. The Titans fielded teams for softball, basketball, and bowling in Covington. Tom was recently appointed to serve a term as director on the Alleghany Foundation. He is survived by his wife of 42 years Mary Anne Day Dean of Clifton Forge. The couple had two daughters, Catherine L. Wright and husband Jason of San Anselmo, California and Kelly C. Dean of Clifton Forge; two grandsons, Brian and Gabriel Wright also of California; two brothers Mark and John Dean; and a uncle Edward Dean. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, July 23, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Clifton Forge with the Reverend James Dorson officiating. Interment will follow in Mountain View Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Charlie Kahle, Terry Slaughter, Jim Eller, Glenn Perry, Meade Snyder, Jason Wright, John Grimes, and Larry Glover. Honorary pallbearers will be Jim Snyder, Carl Brinkley, Jack Hammond, Jeff Crackle, Mason Cauthorn, and Bruce Proffitt. The family will receive friends on Friday evening from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Nicely Funeral Home in Clifton Forge. The family suggest that memorial contributions take the form of donations to the Historic Masonic Theater, P.O. Box 119, Clifton Forge, Va. 24422, the Clifton Forge High School Alumni Association, P.O. 118, Clifton Forge, Va. 24422 or to the local charity or organization of your choice.