Thomas Winkhart

1932 - 2017

Thomas G. Winkhart 1932 – 2017
age 85, died on May 24, 2017, at his home. He was born on April 4, 1932, in Navarre, Ohio, to Glen Winkhart and Louise (Padula) Augusta. Tom was raised by his grandmother, Carmella Padula, and his aunt, Tassie Padula. He graduated in 1950 from Navarre High School, where he lettered in three sports and earned an All-County selection in both football and basketball. Tom turned down an offer to play minor league baseball after being recruited by Woody Hayes to play football at Miami University (Oxford, Ohio). He started as a defensive back for three years, playing for then Head Coach Ara Parseghian. In his four years at Miami, his teams only lost six games.
Tom served in the United States Army as a Signalman stationed at White Sands Proving Ground (New Mexico), and served overseas in Korea. He was awarded the Good Conduct and Company Sharpshooter Medals. Tom began his teaching career in Richmond, Indiana, before he joined his college roommate, Jerry Wampfler, at the start-up football program at Perry High School. He accepted the head football coaching position at Sandy Valley High School, and in 1965 returned to Perry High School as the Head Football Coach. Tom remained Head Football Coach and Athletic Director at Perry from 1965 through 1976, compiling a record of 74-43-2. Tom coached an undefeated season in 1969 and still remains close to many of his players. He was selected as Stark County Football Coach of the Year in 1969. Tom taught History, Government and Biology. He also taught Driver's Education for many summers. He served as Assistant Principal at Perry High School following his coaching career. Tom was the Principal at Fairless High School, and after a year in this position became the Superintendent of Fairless Local Schools. In 1988, Tom was named Superintendent of the Stark County Area Joint Vocational School (R.G. Drage), a position that he retired from in 1992. After a short retirement, he accepted an Interim Superintendent's position with Louisville City Schools. He was elected to the Perry Local Board of Education, but resigned this position to accept the Superintendent's position at Perry. His entire career in education spanned 40 years.
Tom extended his coaching career another 10 years in the Jackson Youth Football League, having the opportunity to coach both of his grandsons, as a Polar Bear. He served on the Creating Perry Recreation Committee which constructed the soccer and track field at Perry High School. He served on the Stark County Park Board, received a Lifetime Achievement Award in Education by the Stark County Board of Education, and was inducted into the Perry High School Athletic Hall of Fame. Tom enjoyed his retirement playing golf in the Larry Kelly League at Tam O'Shanter Golf Course, but nothing deterred him from picking up all five of his grandchildren each day for 19 years at Lake Cable Elementary School. Tom was a 60-year member of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church.
Tom was preceded in death by his father, Glenn, his mother, Louise, his stepmother, Betty, his brother, Duane (Sonny), and his wife of 33 years, Nancy (Kumpf). He is survived by his wife, Beth, whom he married in 1990; his sister, Suzanne (Lon) Swinehart, of Naples, Fla., Beth's children, Sara (Andrew) Polony and their children, Margo and Alexander, of Jackson Township, and Seth Good, of Canton, and his son, Tom (Janelle) and their children, Emily, Thomas, Michael, Annie and Claire, of Jackson Township. We offer a heart-felt thank you to Dr. Betsy Baum for her amazing care and John Baum and his family and staff at Bethany Nursing Home which allowed Tom to recover and return home and the incredible Aultman Hospice staff for helping him in his final days.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, May 27, 2017 at 9:30 a.m. at St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church, 4940 Tuscarawas Street West, Canton, Ohio with Fr. David Weikart Officiating. Burial will be at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at the Paquelet Funeral Home: 1100 Wales Rd. N.E., Massillon, Ohio, on Friday from 4-8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, Tom's family asks that donations be made to the Thomas G. Winkhart Scholarship Fund at Perry High School, 4201 – 13th Street, S.W., Massillon, Ohio 44646.
Paquelet Funeral Home & Crematory
(330) 833-3222