Francis Jarvis

Francis "Tom" Jarvis, age 90, of Dover, died Tuesday, Sept. 18, 2012, in Union Hospital following a brief illness.

Born Oct. 14, 1921 in Glen Dale, West Virginia, Tom was the son of Frank and Texie A. Crow Jarvis. His grandfather on his mother's side was Cherokee, the fact of which Tom was most proud. Tom attended Martin's Ferry High School and entered the service of his country in the U.S. Navy during the Second World War. Prior to being sent to the South Pacific, he married the former Ruth E. Davis on Jul. 26, 1942. Among the places Tom saw action were Saipan and Tinian in the Mariana Islands, and Guam.

Following his service time, in 1950, the couple moved to Tuscarawas County where they made their home. Tom was employed for many years as a pipeliner for Union Local 798 of Tulsa, OK. He spent years as a welder working on the Alaska Pipeline.

Tom loved horses and riding, and for a long time he served as a mounted deputy for the Tuscarawas County Sheriff's Office with his horse, Rocket. He was a member of the Martin's Ferry Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Tusco Rifle Club and the Tuscarawas County Senior Center.

Tom enjoyed learning about his Native American heritage, and especially liked attending pow wows. In his youth, he was a boxer, and up until a few weeks ago Tom maintained a daily physical fitness regimen, which he felt contributed to his longevity.

He was strong, hard-working, stubborn - yet kind, and will be sadly missed. His survivors include a daughter, Cathy (Roger) Linard of Dover; dear friend and caregiver, Sue Ann Fouts of Dover; two grandsons, Michael "Chip" (Rita) King of New Philadelphia, and Joe (April) Linard of Dover; three great-grandchildren, Ashlin King, Jett and Daisy Linard; four step-great-grandchildren, Brittany (Kyle Baab) Grages, Kristi and Corey Contini and David Richards; and a step-great-great-grandson, Aiden William Baab.

In addition to his parents, Tom was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Ruth, in 1993; three infant sisters; his good equine friends, Rocket and Billy Jack; and his dog, Heidi.

A funeral service will be held Monday, Sept. 24, at 1:30 p.m., in the Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory, 246 E. High Ave., New Philadelphia, with Dr. Steven R. Bailey of the First United Methodist Church in New Philadelphia officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Burial Park, New Philadelphia, where military rites will be conducted. Following the committal, there will be a luncheon in the Toland-Herzig Monarch Center on the Boulevard in Dover. Family and friends are invited to call at the funeral home on Sunday, Sept. 23, 6 8 p.m. To sign an online guestbook and share a fond memory of Tom, please visit the Obituaries and Flowers link on the funeral home's website.

The family suggests that contributions in Tom's memory be made to Tuscarawas Co. Humane Society Cat Shelter, P.O. Box 92, New Philadelphia, OH 44663 (please be sure to write "cats" on the memo line).