Terry David Tyson

Terry David Tyson, 67, of Quinton, Virginia, died peacefully on March 14, 2020.

Terry was born in Fostoria, Ohio, on Feb. 24, 1953. He graduated from Elmwood High School in 1971, and served in the United States Army from 1972-1975 and the United States Navy from 1976-1978. He also served an additional year in the Ohio National Guard. In April of 1977, Terry married Kelly Jean Steiner.

After his military service, Terry was hired by the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) Railway (later becoming part of the Chessie System and then CSX Transportation) where he worked as a lineman, brakeman, and conductor. In 1989, Terry was promoted to locomotive engineer and served in that capacity until his retirement in 2013.

Terry had an incredible work ethic, working long hours, and always being ‘on call’. He was consistently recognized for his railway safety and was notably honored by CSX in 1990 for his action above and beyond the call of duty to stop his train in time to save a small child who was on the tracks unattended. During a period of railroad layoffs, Terry worked as an electrician and cab drive for Groome Transportation.

Terry consistently expressed that his greatest accomplishment was creating a family. He was especially proud of his children and his seven grandchildren whom he loved “lots and lots and even tiny little bits.” Second to his love of his family was his life-long love of trains. Starting in childhood, Terry spent much of his free time researching, collecting, and repairing model trains. He used his electrician knowledge to create elaborate train board layouts.

Terry believed in the mindset of “reduce, reuse, recycle,” and was a creative master at repurposing just about anything. He loved telling jokes, singing old ballads, and talking to his siblings, long-term friends, and railroad buddies.

Terry was preceded in death by his father, Ivan R. Tyson Sr.; and his mother, Betty Jean Ziegler Cousino.

He is survived by his daughters Rachel R. Linden (Ian) of Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Emily E. Hauser (Chris) of Ellenton, Florida; son, Trevin D. Tyson (Amber) of King William, Virginia; grandchildren Noah Linden, Jeremiah Woods, Tanner Tyson, Amelia Linden, Kaylin Tyson, Annabelle Woods, and Troy Tyson; siblings Kristina Craig of Springville, Indiana, Ivan R. Tyson Jr. of Livingtson, Montana, Timothy Tyson of Woodland Hills, California, and Suzanne Whitaker of New Orleans, Louisiana.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made do the American Heart Association, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, or the Disabled American Veterans.

A celebration of life will be held at a future date and will be announced as details are available. A burial at sea through the United States Navy will be held as Terry loved the beauty of the Pacific Ocean during his military service.