Thomas Marshall Gwyn passed away on Friday, May 17, 2024. Tom was born in Lenoir on October 28, 1930, to Alice Courtney Gwyn and Nathan Hunt Gwyn.

Raised in Lenoir, NC, Tom graduated from Lenoir High School, attended Davidson College and graduated from Duke University. He and his late wife of 63 years, Laura Ellen Moore Gwyn, began their married life in Poitiers, France (US Army) and then made Elkin home in 1957. He was the true definition of a gracious, kind and devoted servant to community. Tom served as Mayor of Elkin for 26 years.  He was President of the North Carolina League of Municipalities for two years, and was recipient of the prestigious North Carolina Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award as well as the Boy Scouts of America Lifetime Achievement Award.  He served many terms on the First United Methodist Church Council and was a longtime member of Rotary International. Tom retired from Chatham Manufacturing in 1994 as Director of Shipping and then enjoyed a successful real estate career until 2016.  When one attempted to walk downtown with Tom, they had to allow extra time because he knew everyone and would stop and have a real conversation.

A lifelong lover of nature and the outdoors, Tom was an avid angler, gardener, hiker, and tennis player. He was well known for putting together fly-fishing trips for dear friends where many stories were both born and retold for many years. He found joy in woodworking and handcrafting beautiful gifts for all his family and passing along these skills to all. He was generous in every way and improved the lives of others many times through his mission work on building projects across the US and abroad. Everyone in Tom's fold will sorely miss his Sawdust Pies!

Tom is survived by his sons Tom Gwyn, Jr. (Mary), Will Gwyn (Lori), and son-in-law George Heusel (Alice Gwyn Heusel, deceased).  He was an adoring grandfather; affectionately called TomTom, to Ashley Gwyn Denny (Scott), Marshall Gwyn (Olivia), Richard Gwyn (Christine), Sarah Gwyn Snow (Hayden), Alice Gwyn, and Robert Heusel (Meg). He has seven great-grandchildren. Tom was preceded in death by his wife, Laura Moore Gwyn, daughter, Alice Gwyn Heusel, and brothers, Nathan Hunt Gwyn and Rufus Courtney Gwyn.

The family expresses its sincere appreciation to the Joan and Howard Woltz Mountain Valley Hospice Home, Parkwood Place Staff and Caregivers, and Hugh Chatham Health.

A memorial service will be held at First United Methodist Church, Hawthorne Road, Elkin, on Monday, May 27th at 2 pm. Conducted by Rev. Howard Fleming and Rev. Fred Jordan Following the service, the family looks forward to sharing memories with friends in the church fellowship hall.

In lieu of flowers, Memorials may be directed to Elkin First United Methodist Church https://ElkinFUMC.org, the Elkin Valley Trails Association #elkinvalleytrails #EVTA,  or to the Alice Gwyn Heusel Memorial Therapy Fund at https://littlebit.org/donate.

Online condolences may be made at www.jkennedyfsl.com

John Kennedy, Funeral Director is assisting the Gwyn family with funeral arrangements.