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Earl Thomas Gresham Jr., 83, businessman, civic leader, and Christian gentleman, departed this life Sept. 19, 2001, in a local hospital after a brief illness.

Mr. Gresham was the Chairman of the Board of E.T. Gresham Company Inc., the multifaceted construction, crane and rigging, and industrial services concern headquartered in Norfolk. He was born in the Winona section of Norfolk County to Earl Thomas Gresham Sr. and Kathryne Wells Gresham on Oct. 17, 1917. He attended public schools, graduating from Maury High School in 1936. He continued his education at the Norfolk Division of William and Mary/

V.P.I. (now Old Dominion University) and graduated in 1940 from Virginia Polytechnic Institute in Blacksburg with a Bachelors of Science degree in mechanical engineering. During his college years, he served as the class vice president, and was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, Tau Beta Phi, Phi Kappa Phi, Pi Tau Sigma honor fraternities and the Fellowship of the Gold Triangle. He was a registered professional engineer holding Virginia State License number 148.

With the exception of active duty in the U.S. Navy during World War II, he worked his entire life at E.T. Gresham Company Inc., the business his father founded in 1916. He was actively involved in the design, testing and development of truck cranes which grew in lifting capacity from 5 1/2 to 220 tons during his career.

He was a board member of Sentara Health Systems, Blue Cross of Virginia, The Salvation Army and Adult Rehabilitation Center, Virginia Mutual Insurance Co., chairman of the Norfolk Advisory Board of Sovran (Bank of America), Greater Norfolk Corporation, Hampton Roads Maritime Association, Central YMCA, The Religious Herald Publishing Co., and the Shared Hospital Services Laundry. He was also a past trustee and chairman of the Deacons at Talbot Park Baptist Church, a member of the Wednesday Morning Prayer Breakfast which met regularly in downtown Norfolk at Freemason Street Baptist Church, a life member of the Salvation Army Area Command, and a trustee and past master of Ruth Masonic Lodge No. 89, AF&AM, 32nd degree.

Mr. Gresham was an active and proud alumnus of Virginia Tech and served on the Alumni Association and Educational Foundation Board. He was a member of the College of Engineering Committee of 100. In 1986, he received the Alumni Distinguished Service Award.

A member of the Downtown Norfolk Rotary Club since 1948, he was a Paul Harris Fellow. He was a member of the Virginia and National Society of Professional Engineers, Engineers Club of Hampton Roads, past director of the Builders and Contractors exchange and for 38 years, served on the Board of Building Code Appeals.

He was predeceased by a son, Earl Thomas Gresham III and is survived by his wife of 60 years, Doris Trimyer Gresham; a brother, Wells Gresham of Virginia Beach; two sons, William A. Gresham and wife Sarah and Richard Wells Gresham and wife Jane Johann; four grandchildren, Kathryne B. Gresham, William A. Gresham Jr., Thomas E. Gresham and Charles F. Gresham, all of Norfolk.

He was known and highly respected for his selfless servant's heart and will be missed by all.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday in Talbot Park Baptist Church by Dr. Harry T. Dixon Jr. and the Rev. Keith Martin. The family will be at the residence today from 4 to 6 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Salvation Army-South Hampton Roads Command, Talbot Park Baptist Church, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University or the Norfolk Rotary Charities. Cox Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

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