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Retired Circuit Judge Thomas H. “Tom” Keadle, who served Lewis and Upshur counties for 28 years, has died, the Upshur County Sheriff’s Office announced.
“Judge Keadle served Upshur and Lewis Counties with dedication and distinction for many years. He was deeply respected throughout both communities, and his commitment to public service left a lasting impact,” the sheriff’s office said.
Keadle was raised in Alderson in Greenbrier County. He served four years in the U.S. Marine Corps, then worked for nearly eight years as a West Virginia State Police trooper in Romney and Buckhannon.
He later earned degrees from West Virginia University and the WVU College of Law. Keadle began practicing law in 1974, working in Romney as a private attorney and an assistant Hampshire County prosecutor before moving to Buckhannon to practice law.
Keadle was elected to the bench in 1984 and began serving as judge of the 26th Judicial Circuit, which included Lewis and Upshur counties, in January 1985. The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals honored him for 25 years on the bench in 2010.
He retired January 31, 2013. The state judiciary’s 2013 annual report noted that Keadle’s public service included four years in the Marines, eight years with the State Police, 10 years in private legal practice and nearly three decades as a circuit judge.
After retiring from the 26th Judicial Circuit, Keadle was appointed as a senior-status judge in the 22nd Judicial Circuit. He and his wife, Beverly, moved to Romney, her hometown.
“Rest in peace, Judge Keadle. Your many years of dedicated service will not be forgotten,” the sheriff’s office said.
