Thomas Austin Gettings

Thomas Austin Gettings, 79, of West Chester, PA passed away Wednesday, March 5,2025 at Christiana Care Wilmington Hospital in Wilmington, DE.

Born March 13, 1945, in West Chester, PA, he was the son of the late Theodore Roosevelt and late Evelyn Austin Gettings.

Thomas grew up in West Chester and graduated from Henderson High School where he played baseball for the Henderson Warriors.

After graduation, he received a Batchelor’s degree in Industrial Arts and a Master’s degree in Education from Cheyney State Teacher’s College (now Cheyney University), Cheyney, PA

He worked as a teacher for the Upper Darby School District, Brandywine High School, Wilmington, DE and Pocono Mountain High School, Swiftwater, PA. He completed his teaching career with 35 years of service.

Tom was an avid sports fan, his favorite teams being the Philadelphia Phillies, Eagles and Flyers. In his younger years he enjoyed skiing but transitioned to golf in his later years.

He was happiest when he had a hammer, nails and a piece of wood in his hands. He spent many happy hours renovating his home in Kellersville, PA. His proudest accomplishment was designing and building his “Clubhouse”, which contained a room to hold his many tools and construction equipment, his shop and a room to play cards and watch sports games with his friends.

For many years, he cared for and maintained the Kellersville Methodist Church Cemetery adjacent to his property. As a class project, he had students photograph and document the graves in the cemetery and post the information on the Web. This website is still available online today.

He founded the Kellersville Tree Farm and provided Christmas trees to family and friends and donated trees to local municipalities and churches.

He was a member of the United Methodist Church of West Chester.

He is survived by his sisters Jane Turner and Margie Gettings of West Chester, PA, Lorraine Tsao of Downingtown, PA and brother Bob Gettings and wife, Karin, of Lexington, VA as well as niece Kathryn Smith, nephews Frank, Bob and Mark Turner and Michael Gettings and great nieces and nephews Jessica and John Turner, Sophie and Noah Gettings and Eva and Paul Smith.

He is preceded in death by his wives Betty Stanley and Kris Hawkins. He is also preceded in death by his beloved dogs, Dixie, Yankee, Honey, Beauregard, Raven and Beaufort.

Relatives and friends are invited to his Graveside Service on Thursday, March 20, 2025 at 2:00 PM at Birmingham Lafayette Cemetery, 1235 Birmingham Road, West Chester, PA 19382.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the United Methodist Church of West Chester, 129 South High Street, West Chester, PA 19382

Arrangements by DellaVecchia, Reilly, Smith & Boyd Funeral Home, Inc. of West Chester, PA 610-696-1181 www.DellaFH.com