Noel Thomas Wakelyn, Jr.

In Loving Memory of Noel Thomas Wakelyn, Jr.
March 26, 1960 – 2026
Noel Thomas Wakelyn, Jr.—known to all who loved him simply as Tommy—did not do anything in small measure. He lived with a big presence, a brilliant personality, and a heart so massive it encompassed every person, creature, and corner of the natural world he encountered.
Born in Hampton, Virginia, on March 26, 1960, Tommy was a man of gifted intellect and infinite curiosity. A graduate of the College of William & Mary with a degree in Geology, his fascination with the Earth wasn’t just an academic pursuit; it was a lifelong romance with creation itself. Tommy found profound awe where others saw the mundane. An inventor at heart, he endlessly conjured solutions for problems large and small—most driven by a fierce urgency to protect the environment. Among his proudest creations was the “Manatee Shield,” a device he designed to protect manatees from boat propeller injuries.
Tommy was a true collector of life. He gathered tools, cars, historical artifacts, and endless curiosities that caught his eye—things he deemed useful, intriguing, or just plain beautiful. He was at his happiest when in full creative flow, brainstorming new ideas, or engaging in spirited dialogue on fascinating concepts.
He found invigorating energy in bending the rules to make life more interesting. Family and friends hold countless stories of his bold adventures, which invariably brought about either a ton of fun or a bunch of trouble. Tommy loved to laugh and would beam with joy, especially after a great cookout surrounded by those he loved.
To know Tommy was to know a man who felt everything vividly. While that intensity made him a complicated and complex person, what shone brightest was his unwavering empathy. Entirely non-judgmental, he possessed a rare grace that welcomed everyone exactly as they were. He taught those around him to value all of creation and to find love for all of God’s people.
Above all, Tommy loved his family fiercely; his devotion to them was the absolute anchor of his life. He is survived by his loving parents, Noel Thomas Wakelyn, Sr. and JoAnn Huffstetler Wakelyn; his daughters, Jessica Noel Wakelyn and Rachael Anne Wakelyn; son-in-law Nicholas Batten; his three treasured grandsons, Angelo Francis Wakelyn Batten, Sebastian Rey Wakelyn Batten, and Hugo Oisin Wakelyn Batten, who brought him immeasurable pride and joy; his siblings Jana Wakelyn Robbins, Jeannie Wakelyn Boyce, Stephanie Wakelyn Miller, and Robert Wakelyn as well as countless in-laws, cousins, nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles, and still more extended family.
Tommy leaves behind a legacy written in wild passion for living and a family who loved him beyond measure.
Service Details
A funeral and celebration of life will be held on Saturday, August 29th, at 11:00 AM at Crooks Memorial United Methodist Church in Yorktown, Virginia.