Thomas R Tallman

Thomas R. Tallman, 85, of Saint Marys, died peacefully at 7:50 A.M. Saturday, February 6, 2021, at Vancrest of Saint Marys. He will be joining his friends and family in their eternal home.

He was born July 9, 1935, in Columbus, Ohio, the son of Marjorie Tallman Blake, who preceded him in death. Tom was reared by his grandparents, Garland and Hazel (Rainsburg) Tallman. He married Janie (Brentlinger) Parker on May 18, 1984, and she survives.

Tom was a teacher at several northwest Ohio schools. Two of those schools were New Knoxville High School and Indian Lake High School. He started football programs at Ft. Recovery in the late 1950’s. At that time there were no funds to support football, and football was discontinued at the school. He also initiated football at  Lima Perry High School.

Tom graduated from Ada High School in 1953, and from Ohio Northern University in 1957.

Working towards his Masters’ Degree, he attended Bowling Green State University, Carlton College in Northfield, Minnesota, and the University of Alabama. He retired from teaching in the mid-1970’s.

Tom coached football and baseball over the years. He started the football program at Perry High School and had to scramble around to get uniforms. He also tried to start a football program at Ft. Recovery High School in 1957-58. The baseball team he coached in New Knoxville went to the state regional in 1966. 

In addition to teaching  and coaching, Tom worked in construction for about 25 years, and he was a baseball and softball umpire for 35 years. He enjoyed the North American Fast Pitch World Series, and he umpired three of those tournaments. Tom was also a big fan of Ohio State football and basketball, the St Marys Roughriders, Coldwater Cavaliers, and Eaton Eagles sports. He really enjoyed watching script Riders and the Coldwater drum line, but he loved script Ohio most of all. He loved to play cards, especially cribbage on the weekends, and then go out to eat with his friends. He was a hunter and fisherman. 

Tom was active in Freemasonry as a member of Mercer Lodge Free and Accepted Masons; Antioch Shrine of Dayton, Funsters of Huntsville, and was a past patron on Spencerville OES #130, where he was a 50 year member. 

He attended Wayne Street United Methodist Church in Saint Marys.

Tom is survived by his step-children: Jeff (Debbie) Parker of Eaton, Ohio; Jodi (Rob) Schmidt of Coldwater, Ohio. He has a daughter, Drenda Tilton of Florida and a son, Jon Tallman of Florida. He is survived by his half-sisters Helen Wildermuth of Sidney; Betty Jo Faulkner of Florida; Janice Blake of Arizona; a half-brother, Rodney “Buck” Blake of Sidney. Tom is also survived by his grandchildren: Jake Schmidt; Riley Schmidt; Josie Schmidt; Chip Parker. He is survived by step-grandchildren Jessica Robinson, Megan Robinson, Brandon (Shara) Robinson; by a step-great-grandchild, Sophia, and by two great-grandchildren, He is survived by a sister-in-law Marcia Troy; by brother-in-law Vernon (Bev) Brentlinger; by several nieces and nephews.

Funeral rites will be held 2:00 P.M. Saturday, February 13, 2021, at the Miller Funeral Home, 1605 Celina Road, Saint Marys, the Reverend Tim Benjamin, officiant. Burial will follow at Elm Grove Cemetery, Saint Marys.

Friends may call from noon until the time of services on Saturday at the funeral home, where memorial gifts may be given to the Shriners’ Hospital for Children. 

All visitors to the funeral home are required to wear a mask, in accordance with the mandates of the Ohio Department of Health. Condolences may be sent to Tom’s family via Millerfuneralhomes.net