THOMAS SHOAF OBITUARY

Thomas Franklin Shoaf age 78, entered eternal rest on Saturday, October 29, 2022, at St. Ann's Hospital in Westerville, Ohio after a two year battle with Lewy Body dementia. He was born January 22, 1944, to the late Dale and Edith Shoaf of Whitehall. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Sharon (Banbury) Shoaf of Gahanna, their three children, Lisa Shoaf of Pickerington, Robert (Ewa) Shoaf of Dublin, and Richard (Lisa) Shoaf of Westerville; their eight grandchildren, Sylvia Ore, Katrina Ore, Gabrielle Ore, Alexander Ore, Allyssa Shoaf, Braden Shoaf, Sydney Shoaf, and Nicholas Shoaf; sisters, Judy Gillilan of Groveport, Virginia Wargo of Westminster, MD, Linda (Charles) Drake of Pickerington, Debbie (Robert) Carr of Rio Verde, AZ; brother Kenneth Shoaf of Columbus; many cousins, nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by Dennis Wargo and Kenneth Gillilan.

He was a 1962 graduate of Whitehall Yearling High School. He attended Otterbein College and received a B.S. in Education. He began teaching in 1967 at Mifflin Middle School and then in 1979 he was selected as a Student Safety Specialist for Columbus City Schools. His educational career spanned almost 40 years. During that time, he was also a Columbus Police Auxiliary officer and in 1976, received a Columbus Police Commendation for rescuing a father and his two sons from a swollen river.

After retirement, Tom and Sharon enjoyed traveling to many places, from the Panama Canal and Hawaii to Australia and New Zealand. St. Martin was their favorite destination in January or February of each year. However, their favorite thing to do was spend time with their eight grandchildren and travel on whole family vacations together. But the highlight of each year was being with their grandchildren at the annual Christmas sleepover making memories that will last a lifetime.