Thomas Goodeman

Thomas Luther Goodeman ("Tom"), 69, went to be with the Lord on November 21, 2021. He was a native Ohioan, born in Genoa and lived for over 20 years in Waterville. He spent the last 10 years in Plymouth, Michigan, where he retired. Tom was a fixture in Genoa, fondly remembering the days of two-a-day football practices in the late summer and basketball in the winter. He shared eventful memories with his good friends Jim Reynolds and Leonard Camper. Tom's dad Luther worked nights so he would spend many hours with his mother Opal and carried on her love of baked goods and gardening. He graduated from Genoa High School in 1971, and received an Associate’s Degree from Owens Technical College in Agri-business. He initially worked in bank finance, then when the bank was shorthanded one day, Tom had to repossess a car while on a date with his eventual wife, Cindy. As unlikely as it seems, somehow that transitioned into both a marriage and a career in the automotive industry. He spent many years mostly in sales/buying/management at Charlie's Dodge, Jim White Toyota, LaRiche Chevrolet (Findlay) and most recently at Dick Scott Chrysler (Plymouth, MI) before he retired in 2014. On Mondays and Thursdays he joked that he only had to work half-days (9am to 9pm). He loved working with people and the daily camaraderie around the workplace. He shared countless stories of antics and made so many friends along the way who helped pass the time on slow, cold winter days. Like his father he was very stubborn and loved to use nicknames. One would hear stories about Bumpy, LeRoy, The Governor, or Einstein for years before knowing anyone’s actual name. He was married to Cynthia Goodeman (Metzger) from 1976 until 2008. Together they had two children, Anthony Thomas ("Tony") and Patricia Lynn ("Patty"/"Trish") whom he loved dearly. They attended Zion Lutheran Church in Waterville and Tom was active in attending their activities throughout school. He was a self-proclaimed notoriously poor speller and made sure his children would focus on education so they would have more opportunities than he had for himself. In grade school when Tony was learning multiplication flash cards, Tony could never get 8x8, so Tom would have Tony recite the problem and correct answer 10 times to commit it to memory. This happened so often that younger daughter Patty, who was always nearby to audit the responses, would chime in proudly whenever the 8x8 card came up shouting… 64!!! Tom was an avid lover of reading, American history, military history, cars, politics (he was especially entertained by city and state politics), hunting, fishing, and many sports. He had a great sense of humor and was a great story-teller. Tom had a number of health ailments in his later years and hated how dietary restrictions would limit (or were supposed to limit) his intake of sweets. One day in Plymouth after dinner for Tony's birthday, Tom proposed going into a new cupcake shop they had "stumbled" upon while walking around. The proprietor blew his cover when he walked in and she asked "Hi Tom! The usual??" Tom is survived by his son Tony, daughter-in-law Allison, three grandchildren, Aubrey, Amelia, and Bennett, and his former wife Cindy. He is preceded in death by his parents and his daughter Patty. Visitation will be Tuesday, November 30, 2021 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the Robinson-Walker Funeral Home & Crematory, 501 West St., Genoa, OH where funeral services will be conducted by Pastor Steve Bauerle at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, December 1, 2021. Burial will follow in Salem Township Union Cemetery, Oak Harbor, OH. Memorial contributions in memory of Tom can be given to Zion Lutheran Church in Waterville, Ohio, or the American Heart Association. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.walkerfuneralhomes.com.