Michael Dwayne Kilgore, 79 of Johnson City, Tennessee passed away at the Johnson City Medical Center on October 28, 2025 surrounded by his loving family, after a brief illness.
Mike was born in Exeter, VA and attended Appalachia High School. Mike spent most of his life on Skeens Ridge in Big Stone Gap, VA
Mike proudly served in the Vietnam War as an E-6 SSG in the Echo Company, 8th Air Mobile Calvary, 2nd Battalion, First Air Cavalry Division from 1969-1970. Recon Platoon Sargent/Heavy Weapons 1968-1970. He was a recipient of 2 Bronze Stars/with “V” Device/First Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart, Army Accommodation Medal with “V”Device/First Oak Leaf Cluster, Three Air Medals, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry/ with “V” Device, and many Presidential citations. He was also awarded a congressional recognition certificate of honor for the Vietnam War 50th Anniversary Commemoration for service from the US House of Representatives presented by Diana Harshbarger.
Mike continued his education after coming home from Vietnam. He pursued his engineering degree at Milligan College. He also furthered his education by taking courses in Industrial Mining at ETSU, MECC, The University of Tennessee, The University West Virginia & The University of Kentucky.
Carrying forward 3 generations in the coal industry Mike’s passion was in mining. He was an Engineer specializing in Industrial Engineering for Westmoreland Coal Company. When the company closed, he continued his mining career with Simmons Rand in Regional Management for Sales and Service, later when Long Airdox acquired the company he served as a Regional Marketing and Sales Manager, He retired from DBT America/Bucyrus where he also served in Regional Marketing & Sales.
Mike was a member of the American Mining Institute of Industrial Engineering, He served as the Vice President and President of both the Westmorland Coal Company-Stonega Veterans Association and Virginia Mining Institute, He served as Trustee for VFW Post #5715 in Big Stone Gap, VA, where he was also a member of the Honor Guard. Mike was also a member of the DAV Post #45 in Big Stone Gap, VA, 1st Air Cavalry-Silver Saber Division, Vietnam Veterans of America and the American Legion, Tenn Post 0003.
His favorite thing was watching his grandson Brantley grow up and play sports. Mike loved to shop and travel, he was an avid golfer, a big college football and basketball fan, he loved to cheer on the Alabama Crimson Tide & the Kentucky Wildcats. He also enjoyed writing and researching his family history.
Mike was preceded in death by his parents, Clarence & Florence Kilgore, and siblings, Clarence “Eddie” Kilgore, Frederick Allen Kilgore and sister Julia Lynn Jackson.
Those left to cherish and carry on his legacy are his Loving Daughter, Stephanie Kilgore Reed, Son-in-Law Todd Reed, and the Joy of his life, his precious grandson Brantley Michael Reed of Telford, TN; Beloved Brother, Patrick Kilgore, Appalachia, VA, Former spouse of 46 years, Deborah Kilgore, Big Stone Gap, VA, and several nieces, nephews and cousins he loved dearly.
Mike was baptized and had given his life to Christ. He took his last breath with his family, Stephanie, Debbie & Todd, holding his hands. Life comes full circle, through good times and in turbulence, LOVE ALWAYS WINS!
We salute you and you will Never Be Forgotten, Until we meet again.
The family will receive friends on Monday, November 3, 2025 from 5:00-7:00pm for a private time of visitation, at Gilliam Funeral Home, 618 Wood Ave. W, Big Stone Gap, VA. Funeral services will follow at 7:00pm with Lowell “Cotton” Gardner, Jr. ministering. Funeral services will also be private.
Private military graveside services, accorded by American Legion Post 3, 265 Honor Guard, for family members and close friends will be held Tuesday, November 4, 2025 at 1:00pm at Mountain Home National Cemetery, 53 Memorial Drive, Mountain Home, TN. Those serving as pallbearers will be Vietnam Veteran Comrades, Pat Kilgore and Todd Reed, led by Brantley M. Reed.
Gilliam Funeral Home and Crematory is honored to serve the family of Michael Kilgore.
To view the obituary online and offer condolences, visit www.gilliamfuneralhome.com or the funeral home Facebook page.