Thomas J. Patton

Thomas J. Patton, age 88, died Monday, July 15, 2013 at the Community Hospice House in New Philadelphia after a period of declining health. He was born north of Dundee, Ohio on August 18, 1924 and was the son of the late Thomas M. Patton and Marie V. (Sweitzer) Patton.

He is survived by his wife, Hope E. (Rosch) Patton, who he married on September 15, 1953 and two children Faith Settles of Newark, Ohio and Thomas Patton of Kettering, Ohio. In addition, he is survived by son-in-law Kevin Settles and grandchildren Ryan and Chance Settles. He was preceded in death by his two brothers, Joseph Patton and William Patton.

Tom grew up in Dover, Ohio, graduated from Dover High School in 1944, and Miami University in 1949 with a degree in Health and Physical education. He began his career immediately following his college graduation at the YMCA in Dover as a Physical Director. He was Physical Director for 17 years until he moved into the position of Executive Director which he held until retirement in 1989, ending 40+ years of service to the YMCA. During his tenure at the YMCA, a new facility was built in 1971 between Dover and New Philadelphia to serve all of Tuscarawas County and he also established an Endowment Fund to serve the future needs of the organization.

During his 40 years of YMCA service, he developed outstanding youth programs including swimming and volunteer leadership programs. Tom was instrumental in forming the N.E. Ohio YMCA swimming league and aquatic programs that taught thousands to swim from youth through adults. The Tuscarawas County YMCA swim teams won many divisional and league championships and two state swimming championships.

Tom was active in the community and served as trustee for the Reeves Foundation for 23 years including 3 years as President. He was instrumental in raising funds and establishing endowments for the YMCA and the Grace Lutheran Church and he was the first chairman of the Building Committee for the Community Hospice of Tuscarawas, Stark and Carroll counties. In addition, he assisted with fundraising efforts/campaigns for the Tuscarawas County Senior Center, Kent State Tuscarawas Campus, and the Salvation Army.

Tom received numerous awards and recognition over his career. A few of the more cherished awards that he received were the YMCA Maverick Award in 1964 which recognized a YMCA Physical Director by his peers for significant contributions, the Zeisberger/Heckewelder Award by the Dover Historical Society for contributions to his community in 1990, and the James E. Swormstedt (True Grit) National YMCA Award in 2011.

Tom was proud of his Irish heritage and served as the Grand Marshall of the St. Patrick's Day parade in 1995. He was active in the Grace Lutheran Church and enjoyed staying active with bicycling and hiking with his dog.

In keeping with Tom's wishes, there will not be any calling hours/public visitation. There will be a Memorial Service planned for August 17, 2013 at 1pm in the afternoon at the Grace Lutheran Church on North Wooster Avenue in Dover. There will be a friendship gathering following at the Reeves Foundation Lobby at the Kent State University New Philadelphia campus Performing Arts Center from 2:30-5:30pm. The Toland-Herzig Funeral Home & Crematory in Dover are handling the arrangements. Those unable to attend, or who would like to share a fond memory of Tom may do so by visiting the "Obituaries & Flowers" Link on the funeral home's website.

You may make contributions on Tom's behalf to YMCA Endowment Fund, 600 Monroe St, Dover, Ohio 44622 or the Community Hospice of Tuscarawas, Stark, and Carroll Counties, 716 Commercial Ave SW, New Philadelphia, Ohio 44663.



Toland-Herzig Logo