Thomas David Barnett

Thomas David Barnett, 55, of Church Road, Virginia passed away from a short bout with an aggressive cancer on August 1, 2025. Born on July 17, 1970, in West Chester, Pennsylvania, he was a beloved son of James and Mary Helen Barnett, and a devoted husband, father, son, brother, and friend.

He is survived by his loving wife of 31 years, Joan Warkoczewski Barnett; their son, Ryan Barnett and daughter, Kathryn (Katie) Barnett. Additionally, he is survived by his mother and father, James and Mary Helen Barnett; brothers, Michael (Mike), of Goose Creek, South Carolina; Charles (Charlie), of West Grove, Pennsylvania; as well as his nephew and niece of West Grove, Pennsylvania.

Tom’s life was defined by love, loyalty, and hard work. He met his wife Joan at his church’s youth group during his middle school years and they were childhood sweethearts. He loved to get dirty at his jobs and would do any job without complaint. He was a pressman for 27 years and always came home inky. He had a good eye for color and was requested to be in charge of several print jobs. He helped commission the newest press in the country in 2001 but ultimately didn’t like working there because it was all computerized and you couldn’t get dirty anymore. In his final years, he was a valuable asset to Peak Property Management as an Exterior Day Porter, taking care of the buildings and the City of Richmond with pride.

Tom loved to go on hikes with his family and see different National Parks. When the kids were young, Tom could be found taking his children fishing or canoeing or just letting them play and get dirty in the yard. Tom loved to cook and always made sure his family was well fed. His steaks, roasts, turkeys, and any kind of potatoes will be severely missed. He was an avid Philadelphia sports fan and planned his day around watching his beloved Philadelphia teams. Tom loved to work in his yard and on his house, once again getting dirty. He tended numerous gardens throughout his years and loved to grow a variety of vegetables. He had a passion for birds of all kinds, including birds of prey, song birds, and domestic ducks and chickens. He was a passionate dog and cat lover and will be missed by his four dogs and three cats.

A memorial service will be held to celebrate Tom’s life at 2:00 pm, on Saturday August 23, 2025, at Smyrna Baptist Church in Dinwiddie, Virginia. The family will receive friends for a visitation from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm before the service. Tom’s memory will live on in the hearts of all who were blessed to know him.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to be made to Massey Cancer Center, Richmond, VA.