Thomas-DePue-Obituary

Thomas DePue

Athens, Ohio

1952 - 2023

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DIED
April 28, 2023
LOCATION
Athens, Ohio
CHARITY
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Athens Thomas Andrew DePue, 70, of Athens, passed away on Friday, April 28, 2023 at Riverside Methodist Hospital after a brief illness. He was the youngest of six children born to the late Henry and Mary Lawson DePue of Athens.

In the very early months of his life Tom was discovered to have cerebral palsy. His Mother and some others in Athens promptly founded Beacon School for those with disabilities and Tom attended from infancy until graduation.

After graduation from Beacon Tom was employed at the ATCO Sheltered Workshop until May of 2011. He painted with Passion Works and made pens. His true forte was the painting for Passion Works and his most famous work of art is the "Big Headed Girl" he helped create. He collected many pop can tops for the backs of the Passion Flowers for their hanging.

Upon leaving ATCO Tom went to work at Echoing Connections until his retirement. He labeled bags for Shagbark and participated in the activities at Echoing Connections, and many considered him the Mayor.

Tom was very active while at Beacon and ATCO garnering numerous bowling trophies and participating in the Special Olympics. He loved a parade and a good party.

As a young boy Tom regularly attended the Alexander Presbyterian Church and enjoyed listening to the choir and his mother play the piano. It was a great spiritual and social time for him also. He travelled extensively through the country with his parents and in the summers the family could be found camping at the Indian Mound Campground. He spent many summers as a camper at the Echoing Hills Campground.

Tom was a Cincinnati Reds and Dallas Cowboys fan. He could converse about both and give you a difficult time if you were not a fan. He did travel with Echoing Meadows to Dallas to enjoy a Cowboys game and spent time there with his brother Ben who lived in the area.

Tom was certainly social. If he could not remember your name, he would say "Howdy Stranger" and you'd no longer be a stranger but engaged in lively conversation.

He had a great sense of humor and liked to crack jokes with his staff and put a smile on everyone's face. He made it a point to let his housemates know that he cared about each and every one of them, ending each day with a "good-night" to all.

Tom loved his family dearly and spoke about them regularly. He would say he loved his brother Bob and missed his parents. He knew his parents were looking over him and would someday see him again.

Tom is survived by two brothers: Jack (Nancy) DePue, Florida; Robert (Jill) DePue, Athens, Ohio; two sisters: Mary Virginia (Robert Kupsch) DePue, Missouri; Martha Sue (Mark) Lane, Athens, Ohio; many nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews, several aunts, uncles and cousins. His "two little girls", great nieces Morgan and Sophia Atherton who were most special to him, and he held close to his heart and often by his side.

Beside his parents and grandparents, Tom is predeceased by his brother and sister-in-law, Ben and Carol DePue, brother -in-law Jerry Perry, Aunt Martha and Uncle Ed Volkomener, niece Carey Colleen Atherton, his best friend John and many other long time friends and family that he has missed and remembered.

Tom certainly had a life well lived and would not want you to be sad. A celebration of his life is being planned for a later date. Arrangements are with Jagers & Sons Funeral Home, Athens. Please share a memory, a note of condolence or sign the online register at www.jagersfuneralhome.com. In lieu of flowers please help a stranger, buy someone a juicy steak or coffee milkshake (Tom's favorites) or donate to the charity of your choice in honor of Thomas A. DePue.

None of us are assured tomorrow so be thankful for the time we have together. Thomas DePue

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Uncle Tommy, you were truly an amazing and special person who blessed our lives with light and much laughter! We take solace in knowing you are reunited with our precious loved ones gone before. God bless you & may you rest in peace!

Sorry for the lose! I am happy to remember knowing him while he worked at Atco! He was a hard worker, a very happy outlook on life and a very kind person during my time as secretary at Atco!

Sorry for your lose. Tom will be remember at alexander church. He always made sure that we all knew he was there.

I attended Alexander Church with Tom and his family. I have great memories being at their home. Prayers and blessing to the family.

I am so sorry to hear of Tommy’s passing. I remember attending church with him in our younger days. It was always nice to walk in to church and see his smile. I am sure he will be missed by many.

Tom was the most amazing bah hum bug ray of sunshine. He loved to have fun, loved people, and was a hard worker. He loved making art and was determined in all he did. His daily banter about numerous topics made work a fun amazing place to be.

My name is Bennita Conant. I am 70 also. I attended Alexander Presbiteran Church with my parents ;(Benny and Leona Conant). As a child, Tommy always sat on the right side of the church. I always had crayons and a coloring book with me and my mom encouraged me to go up and sit with Tommy during church. I continued to do that for a long time. I hadn't thought of that for many years till I noticed that Tommy passed. Im grateful for that opportunity to serve God in that small way, and I...

Tom and Athena, one of the foster rabbits at eC. He adored them...and I think ymthey enjoyed sitting with him too.

Tom was a joy to be around and will be missed. He loved going places (fair, football games, movies,etc) with us, he loved painting with my girls when they were not in school. So many memories

We were saddened to hear about the passing of Tom. We have known Tom all of our lives from Alexander Church. He thought our dad (Dick Lyons) was the guy for any job he wanted done.
One of the times he wanted dad to do job for him. Dad told him he had too many irons in the fire. Tom’s answer was simple. Well, take one out! That’s just one of our favorite memories of Tom. There are many.
Keeping all of you in our thoughts.