Thomas S. Palmer

STOW - Thomas S. Palmer, 89, passed away peacefully on January 17, 2025, after a courageous, long fought battle with many chronic health issues.

Born November 12, 1935, Tom grew up in Cleveland, and graduated from Mayfield High School in 1954, and Mount Union College in 1959. He remained a faithful alum and diehard fan of “Mount’s football team."

Tom was employed as a Public Relations Account Executive with Griswold-Eshleman Company, in Cleveland, and later with the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, in Akron, Ohio as a Publications Editor. He retired in 1992.

Tom met and married Helen, his wife of 59 years, until her passing in 2022. Tom and Helen were very active during those 59 years, as Tom relived those many memories with the surviving family in the years following.

Tom and Helen were long time members of Lakewood Presbyterian Church, where Tom served on the Board of Deacons and President of the Dueteers Couples’ Club. They maintained their relationship with Dueteers for over 50 years. Tom also enjoyed contributing to their newsletter as well.

Tom and Helen began their lives in Berea, Ohio. They moved to Lakewood and then to Stow, Ohio as they raised their daughters, Susie and Patti. They were heavily involved in the girls’ school, band, and swimming activities.

Tom’s hobbies included his bowling league (EVERY Tuesday, for years, with spaghetti dinner first, of course!). He was also a self-acclaimed (duffer) golfer.

Tom’s childhood love for trains and cars continued into his adulthood. Over the years, he was proud of his cars.  His favorite loves: he owned and restored a 1969 Oldsmobile 98 convertible that was used in parades as well as in his daughters’ weddings as “get-away” cars.  Later, he owned and restored his “baby”, a bright red 1994 Mazda Miata!

One of the fondest memories for the entire family was Tom’s involvement with Steam Tours, Inc. Tom was part-owner of a franchise that brought the original Steam Locomotive into the present. The group brought Steam Engine #2102 to life with excursions in Kent and Pittsburgh, PA through Horseshoe Curve.  Tom and Helen later volunteered, dressing as elves, on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad’s “Polar Express."

Being an animal lover at heart, the family had many pets over the years.  This love of pets carried into the lives of Susie and Patti - and into their children’s lives as well. Dogs and cats: “A type of unconditional love that has no boundaries”, Tom would say.

Tom loved to drive. He, Helen, and the girls took many trips to see loved ones: two trips to California (drove through as many different states as possible!), Michigan, Cape Cod, Cincinnati and many others.

Tom and Helen’s love for football never waned as they were season ticket holders for the Mount Union Purple Raiders for years. They rarely, if ever, missed a game during that time. While also being a diehard Cleveland sports fan (the Cavs and Tribe, too), Tom’s favorite was the Cleveland Browns. He was forever wishing for that always elusive Super Bowl win! However, he proudly was still able to name every player on the 1964 Championship Team!

Tom is survived by daughters, Susie Stewart (Kevin Bable) and Patti (Wade) Vantrease; grandchildren, Cody Vantrease, Kelly Vantrease, Kyle Vantrease, Alyssa (Nick) Saranas, Ian Stewart, Lydia Stewart, and great grandsons, Andrew and Jace Saranas. He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas and Lorraine (Saylor) Palmer, and Lois Palmer.

The family would like to thank the outstanding and loving care given by the staff at Mulberry Gardens Senior Living in Munroe Falls, Ohio, and the Gardens of Western Reserve Hospice Care.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like to ask for donations, in Tom’s memory, to the University of Mount Union Alumni Association, 1972 Clark Avenue Alliance, Ohio 44601 ( giving.mountunion.edu ) OR the Cleveland Animal Protective League, 1729 Willey Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44113 ( clevelandapl.org )

A memorial service will be held Saturday, February 1, 2025, at 10 AM, at Mulberry Gardens Senior Living, 395 South Main Street, Munroe Falls, Ohio 44262.

Private burial will take place at a later time.