Vernon T. Arehart

STAUNTON:

Vernon Thomas Tom Arehart, 82, widower of Dolores (Laskowski) Arehart of 814 Fielding Place, passed away Sunday, April 14, 2013 at his residence.
Mr. Arehart was born on October 2, 1930 in Staunton, a son of the late Vernon Alexander and Mary Dell (Lotts) Arehart.
Tom was a member of Bethel Presbyterian Church and was employed with Staunton Machine Works as a tool and die maker until 1982. He furthered his career with Hershey Chocolate Company as an engineering specialist until his retirement in 1995. He was a Staff Sergeant/Air Crew Chief from 1951 to 1955 with 1500 hours of flight time in the United States Air Force during the Korean Conflict. Tom was also a member of the Middlebrook Ruritan Club, a life member of the National Wild Turkey Federation and the NRA. He was an avid outdoorsman who liked to target shoot, hunt and fish.
In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by
two brothers, Bob Arehart and Richard Dick Arehart.
Survivors include a son, Richard T. Arehart and wife Sherrie L. of Stuarts Draft; a daughter, Helen M. Parkhurst and husband Chris Reiff of Vienna; two sisters, Betty Beard and husband Charles of Staunton and Sally Brubeck and husband Bill of Middlebrook; four grandchildren, Alycia Arehart, Christopher Parkhurst, Michelle Parkhurst and Lauren Parkhurst and a number of nieces and nephews also survive.
A celebration of life will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. Friday, April 19, 2013 in the Coffman Funeral Home Chapel by Pastor Danny Campbell.
Burial will follow in Thornrose Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Thursday, April 18, 2013 at Coffman Funeral Home and Crematory.
Active pallbearers will be Steve Arehart, Jim Arehart, Bill Arehart, Victor Arehart, Gary Arehart, Glenn Arehart, John Bratton and Scott Fielding.
In lieu of flowers and food, memorial contributions may be made to the Leukemia Foundation, 5540 Falmouth Street, Suite, 101, Richmond, VA 23230, the American Heart Association, 4217 Park Place Court, Glen Allen, VA 23060, Staunton-Augusta Rescue Squad, Post Office 2566, Staunton, VA 24402 or the Stuarts Draft Rescue Squad, Post Office Box 260, Stuarts Draft, VA 24477.
Coffman Funeral Home and Crematory, 230 Frontier Drive in Staunton is in charge of his arrangements.