Tom E. Christopher Jr., 91, of Perrysville died Tuesday afternoon, April 7, 2015 in Emeritus Hillen Vale of Mt. Vernon following a short illness.
Tom was born Aug. 19, 1923 in Fredericksburg and was the son of the late Tom E. and May (Carr) Christopher Sr. He had lived in Perrysville most of his life and was a 1941 graduate of Perrysville High School where he held basketball honors as the all-time scoring champion in Ashland County for many years.
During his high school career Tom received All-County Honors in both basketball and baseball and in 1998 was elected to the Ashland County Sports Hall of Fame. He was employed by Mansfield Sanitary Pottery before he enlisted in the US Marine Corps in 1942 and served four years in the 1st Marine Division during WWII. On September 20, 1946 he married Betty (Frank) Christopher who died September 19, 2014 after 68 years of marriage. He was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Perrysville. He loved his family dearly, his town of Perrysville, writing poetry and telling stories.
Tom was the Water and Sewer Superintendent for the Village of Perrysville for 30 years prior to his retirement and also served as Perrysville Town Marshal for eight years. He was a Green Twp. Trustee for 12 years, a 10 year member of the Ashland County Board of Health, a member and past President of the Perrysville Lions Club, a lifetime member of both the Perrysville Fire Dept. where he served as a Captain and VFW Post 8586 where he was a charter member as well as past Commander. Tom definitely served his community well.
Tom is survived by 2 daughters, Toni (Larry) Burkepile of Loudonville and Teri (Steven) Marshall of Marysville; his son, Chuck (Dawn) Christopher of Bellville; 8 grandchildren: Rusty (Tracy) Burkepile, Ritchie Burkepile, Ryan (Brittany) Burkepile, Corey (Brittany) Christopher, Darci (Jason) Chaddock, Erin (Gabe) Crumley, Gina Harris and Lisa Marshall; 2 step-grandchildren: Cassidy Cobillas and Addison Hillard; 15 great-grandchildren: Spencer, Austin and Alexis Burkepile, Daylynn, RyLee, and Bryston Burkepile, Cayden and Cillian Christopher, Megan and Ben Harris, Quinlan, Lincoln and Hudson Chaddock, and Zella and Gavin Crumley; and one sister, Gloria Duncan of Perrysville. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, and one brother, Jim Christopher.
Services will be held Monday, April 13 at 11 a.m. in Lindsey Funeral Home, Loudonville with Rev. Bege Wiegman officiating. Burial will follow in Greenlawn Cemetery with military honors conducted by the VFW and American Legion.
Friends may call Sunday, Apr. 12 from 2-5 p.m. in Lindsey Funeral Home where a Fireman’s Service conducted by the Green-Perrysville Fire Dept. will begin at 4:45 p.m. Memorial contributions may be given to the Green-Perrysville Fire Dept., Post Office Box 270, Loudonville, OH 44842. Online condolences may be left for the Christopher family by visiting www.Byerly-Lindsey.com .
