Obituary for Barbara Hilton “Tinky” Layman

Barbara Hilton Layman, 1942-2023

Barbara Hilton “Tinky” Layman, 80, of Pulaski, Va., passed away at Commonwealth Senior Living in Fairlawn, Va. on the morning of January 31, 2023. Tinky was born in Beckley, West Virginia on November 30, 1942 to the late James and Wilma Shanklin Hilton. She lived in Beckley to the age of nine, when her family moved to Pulaski. She graduated from Pulaski High School in 1960 and from Radford College in 1964. After college, Tinky married local attorney T. Rodman “Rod” Layman in December 1964 and was married to him for nearly 54 years until his passing in 2018. She taught English and Science at Dublin High School until the birth of the couple’s first son in 1968. Tinky and Rod moved to Richmond, Va. in 1970 when Rod was appointed to the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission and later to the Governor’s Cabinet. While in Richmond, Tinky was active in the Bon Air Christian Church, the Virginia Republican Party, the Jaycettes, and a variety of other civic organizations. She gave birth to the Layman’s second son in 1974.

After the Laymans returned to Pulaski in 1982, Tinky pursued a Master’s degree in education at Radford University, which she earned in 1984. With her Master’s degree in hand, Tinky returned to teaching at Pulaski County High School, where she taught Science (primarily Biology) from 1984 to 2005, serving as Science Department chair for several years over that time. Tinky retired from teaching in 2005 with 25 years of service in the Pulaski County public schools.

Tinky led an active retirement, serving in and leading a variety of church, civic, and political groups. She was chair of the Kitchen Committee of First United Methodist Church in Pulaski. She served as president of the Pulaski County Retired Teachers Association as well as the Pulaski County chapter of Delta Kappa Gamma, an international society of women educators. Tinky also served as the secretary of the Pulaski County Republican Party.

Tinky was a voracious reader and collector of any and all things related to penguins. She would always claim to dislike sports, but could be found at nearly every PCHS football game (especially when her son Matt was on the team) and most home football and basketball games at Virginia Tech with her diehard-Hokie husband Rod.

In addition to her parents, Tinky was preceded in death by her husband Rod and her brothers Roger and Robert Hilton. She is survived by her two sons Geoff and Matt Layman, her two daughters-in-law Amy and Heather Layman, her grandson Chris Layman, and her four granddaughters Caroline, Grace, Kate, and Shannon Layman.

The family will greet friends at Seagle Funeral Home in Pulaski on Friday, February 3, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m.  Memorial services for Tinky will be held at First United Methodist Church in Pulaski on Saturday, February 4, 2023 at 3:00 p.m. She will be laid to rest alongside her husband Rod at the Virginia Tech Columbarium in Blacksburg. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Pulaski County Public Schools Education Foundation, 202 North Washington Avenue, Pulaski, VA 24301 or to First United Methodist Church Pulaski at 135 4^th St. NW, Pulaski VA 24301.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.seaglefuneralhome.com  Arrangements by Seagle Funeral Home, Pulaski.  540-980-1700