Thomas R. King, age 87, passed away on August 23, 2025.

He was born on January 9, 1938, in Wheeling, West Virginia, to Richard and Beatrice King. Tom spent his early years in Barnesville, Ohio, living in the Shannon Hotel, which was owned by his grandmother and father. The family later sold the hotel and settled in Canton, Ohio, where Tom grew up.

He attended St. Mary's Catholic Elementary School, where he served as an altar boy and was active in the Boy Scouts. Tom graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1955. He went on to study at the University of Akron before transferring to Tri-State College in Angola, Indiana, where he graduated in 1960 with honors in Mechanical Engineering. While at Tri-State, he met Jane Heffner, the sister of a classmate. They were married on December 29, 1962, a marriage that would last more than 63 years.

After graduation, Tom began his career with General Tire and Rubber Company in Akron. Through a government program during that time, he served for 3-months in the United States Army, earning the rank of Private. He later pursued graduate studies at Washington University in St. Louis, where he received a master's degree in engineering in 1968. Tom returned to General Tire and devoted 38 years to the company, ultimately serving as head of the Tire Testing Division before retiring in 1999.

Tom and Jane made their home in Hartville, Ohio, where they lived for over 50 years and raised two children, Laura and Thad. Beyond his professional achievements, Tom was an avid outdoorsman with a lifelong love of hunting and fishing. He was a member of the McKinley Rifle and Pistol Club, NRA, Hartville Historical Society, Montana Historical Society, and the McKinley Presidential Library & Museum.

He also had a passion for history and literature, especially the works of author Terry C. Johnston. Inspired by Johnston's novels, Tom and Jane traveled throughout the American Southwest and across much of the United States visiting native American battle grounds. They also enjoyed riverboat cruising, journeying the full length of both the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. Together, they ventured abroad to Ireland, Scotland, England, and Germany.

In 2017, Tom and Jane moved to Columbus to be closer to family.

Tom is survived by his beloved wife, Jane King; daughter Laura Watson (Rick) of Columbus, Ohio; son Thad King (Esther) of Dallas, Texas; grandchildren Sarah, Daniel (Hannah), Annie, Grace, Charlie, Marisa, and Brandan; and three great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brothers Richard King of Canton, Ohio, and Mark King of Tucson, Arizona, as well as many nieces, nephews, and extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Beatrice, his brother Harry, and his sister Kathy.

A funeral will be held on Saturday, October 25, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Mark's Episcopal Church, 515 48th St. NW, Canton, Ohio. Family and friends may gather for visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m., a memorial service at 11:00 am, and a luncheon to follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in the name of Thomas R. King to either the Hartville Historical Society or the McKinley Presidential Library & Museum.