Thomas Joseph Nealon

Thomas Joseph Nealon, age 79, of Columbus, died peacefully on Monday, November 5, 2012 at The Ohio State University Medical Center. Born March 15, 1933 in Cleveland, Ohio, Tom graduated Holy Rosary High School class of 1951 and attended The Ohio State University. Tom served in the U.S. Army Infantry from 1953-1955 at Fort Knox, Kentucky as an infantry trainer. One time Tom was driving home and stopped' in Cincinnati to pick up a hitchhiker, and it turned out to be his cousin, Jim Nealon. Employed as a paper sack salesperson. An avid outdoorsman, Tom enjoyed hunting groundhogs on Sleepy Hollow Farm, coon hunting, blue gill fishing, occasionally feasting on the game, and fishing with his cousin Jim and Uncle Ken. Tom enjoyed steak on the grill at the farm with Uncles Ken, George, and his father, Ray. Tom donated food to a homeless shelter and once upon a time donated bags of potatoes. Needing help in carrying the bags into the shelter, Tom enlisted the service of two young men who volunteered. The young men swooped up the bags of potatoes and carried them away. Good-bye potatoes! Tom enjoyed Thanksgivings at Jim and Jean's family gatherings in Granville and Yellow Springs through 2010 until his brain tumor occurred. Tom was a member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church. Tom's remains will be buried in St. Joseph's Cemetery, Lockbourne, OH, with his father and mother in one of Jeremiah Anglim's grave sites. Tom’s parents, John Raymond Nealon and Mary Anglim Nealon, and his brother Jack Nealon, all preceded him in death. Tom is survived by cousins, Jim and Jean Nealon of Yellow Springs, OH, Helen Anglim of Worthington, OH and Paul Creedon of Atlanta, GA. A Memorial Mass will be said at 10 AM, Tuesday, December 4, 2012 at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 280 North Grant Avenue, Columbus, OH. In lieu of flowers a donation in Tom’s memory to the Cat Welfare Organization, 741 Wetmore Road, Columbus, OH 43214 is welcome. Special Thanks to: Ric Grubaugh, Tom's friend, executor, transporter to VA treatment and doctor's appointments, and co-ordinater of funeral arrangements.