Thomas E. Kingston, 88, died peacefully on Sunday, May 19th surrounded by family at his home on Siesta Key, FL. Son of George Sr. & Ellen (Lackey) Kingston, he was born in Northfield, VT on May 21, 1935. He was a graduate of Northfield High School and completed the mortuary of science program at New England Institute in Boston before attending Champlain College in Burlington, VT.

He was a United States Army veteran, stationed in Germany at the end of the Korean War.

He married Patricia Louise Britton on June 15, 1957 in Barrington, RI. They lived much of their family years on Central Street and Dole Hill in Northfield. He loved to spend as much time as possible during the summer months at their camp on Keeler Bay in South Hero, VT, as well as extended winter escapes to Siesta Key.

Tom purchased the Kingston Funeral Home in Northfield from his father, George. He operated the business for over 43 years. In 1994, Tom transferred management of the funeral home to his daughter, Robin, and son-in-law, Michael Donahue, until they officially acquired the business in 1998.

After retiring in 1998, Tom and Pat split their time between Siesta Key and South Hero. He remained involved in countless community causes, leadership roles, and programs. He served on several of the funeral service boards as well as educational, local business, and legislative committees. He was a lifelong member of St. John the Evangelist Church in Northfield, Sorrell Maynard American Legion Post 63, Brown & Johnson VFW, Sunrise Cove Condominiums, and many other area fraternal organizations. Tom was an avid golfer and longtime member of the Northfield Country Club as well as the Sunrise Cove golf group.

He is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Patricia, of Siesta Key; sons, Thomas E. Kingston Jr., MD and wife, Bobbye Lou, of Swampscott, MA, Christopher Kingston and partner, Paulina, of Charlotte, VT, Jeffrey Kingston and wife, Sarah, of Healdsburg, CA; daughters, Robin Donahue and husband, Michael, of Seminole, FL and Lisa Kingston of Washington, DC; sister, Anne Loebl, of Holland, MI; 12 grandchildren, Alec, Kyle, and Will Kingston, Lindsay MD (Ben), Taylor, and Mackenzie Kingston, Nicholas (Kim), Jackie (Amanda), and Grady Donahue, Claire, Jane, and Cole Kingston; six great grandchildren, Landry, Thomas, Penelope, Kelley, Miller, and Britton Donahue; and many nieces and nephews.

Tom was predeceased by his brother, George Kingston Jr. and wife, Beverly; sister, Elizabeth "Libby" and husband, W. W. "Red," Whiting; and brothers-in-law, Robert Loebl and William Britton.

Tom's first grandchild, Nicholas, struggled with the name, "Grampy," so Pat suggested a modification: "Grump." Thereafter, all grandchildren affectionately referred to Tom as "Grump" or "Grumpy." Keeping in theme, Tom became "Grump the Great" to the great grandchildren, and Pat (known to her grandchildren as "Gram") became, "Gram the Great."

To his grandchildren, Grumpy was especially loved for the stock of frozen Reese's he kept in the freezer and his gnarly tubing on Lake Champlain.

A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, September 14th at 11am at St. John the Evangelist Church in Northfield, followed by burial in Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to his grandnephew's foundation, the Trevor Kingston Memorial Outdoors Foundation, Greater Horizons, PO Box 505661, St. Louis, MO 63150-505661, https://greaterhorizons.kimbia.com/king15 (helping at risk kids get active and discover healing in the outdoors). Kingston Funeral Home, 35 Slate Avenue, Northfield, VT 05663 is handling the arrangements.