Thomas Arthur Harker

Thomas (Tom) A. Harker, 90 years old, passed away peacefully on September 26th, 2025, at his home in Westerville, Ohio.

Tom was born in 1934 in Detroit, Michigan to the late Donald and Alice Harker where he spent his early years as a child. He moved to Avon Lake in his teen years where he enjoyed living near Lake Erie and playing with his German Shephard, Jeep. Tom enjoyed playing basketball, earning a spot on the Avon Lake High School Boys Varsity basketball team as a freshman. Tom attended Miami University where he was involved in many activities, including being a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon, where he made lasting friendships with fellow members, serving on the Business School Advisory board, Alumni board and receiving the John Dolibois award in 1995.

Miami University was where Tom met Jo Anne Wones, the love of his life. The two were married after their graduation in 1956, and moved to the Avon Lake area, when Tom enlisted in the United States Army, serving in Ft. Chaffee, AR. Upon his return from service, with his Bachelor of Science degree in Business, Tom entered the workforce as a Management Trainee for Clevite Corporation. Tom served many years with Clevite, as the corporation underwent various ownership changes, in the areas of Finance, Systems, Distribution, Marketing, Operations and General Management, often moving his family from Ohio to Indiana and Minnesota, then back to Ohio again due to various promotions. Along with those business responsibilities came lots of travel internationally and stateside. His final role being Group Vice President at The Pullman Company, in Huron, Ohio.

Tom was also a resident of Mesa, Arizona for almost 40 years, initially being a snowbird, then living in Arizona full time. Tom and Jo moved to Westerville, Ohio in 2019 to be closer to family.

Tom was a man of great strength, integrity, humility and loved his family deeply. He treasured time traveling with Jo and his college friends, especially with trips to Colorado and Ohio to visit his grandchildren. He enjoyed his usual glass of Pinot Grigio for happy hour on a regular basis

Tom was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Jo Anne and his parents Donald J. and Alice J. Harker.

Tom is survived by his children, son Thomas A. Harker Jr. of Conifer, Colorado and daughter Kimberly A. Brooks (Chris) of Westerville Ohio; grandchildren, Morgan, Carson, Alli and Cole.

Funeral arrangements have been made with Busch Funeral Home, 163 Avon-Belden Rd., Avon Lake, Ohio 44012. Visitation will be held on Friday, October 3, 2025 at 11:00 am with a funeral service immediately following at 11:30 am. Christian burial will follow at Elmhurst Cemetery, Avon, Ohio 44011

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages you to donate in Tom's memory to his beloved Miami University: Harker Family Endowment, care of the Miami University Alumni Association, 725 East Chestnut, Oxford, OH 45056. http://www.givetomiamioh.org/HarkerFamilyFund

www.buschcares.com 440-933-3202