Thomas John “Geez” Householder,70, born in Lodi, July 2, 1942, and died in Dublin, Ohio, Thursday, August 23, 2012, 10 weeks after a brain cancer diagnosis.
He was the son of the late J. Carl and Bernice (Faunce) Householder and was a 1960 graduate of Elyria High School and a 1965 graduate of Fenn College (the last Fenn College class). He received his BS Engineering Physics Fenn College, MS Mathematics Miami University. He worked various jobs as engineer/physicist 1965-1970: Allis Chalmers, Sargent-Welch Scientific and Borg-Warner. He taught math three years at Columbus Academy and 25 years math, engineering and physics at Muskingum Area Technical College, Zanesville.
He is mourned by wife, Lynne Householder; son, Paul Householder; daughter and son-in-law, Anne and Todd Everett; and sisters and brothers-in-law, Nancy and Joel Gross of Creston and Sally and Carvil Cool of Seville; and so many friends.
Tom will be fondly remembered as someone who truly loved life and people and lived much more fully than most. He hiked and camped. He biked, walked and fished all around Columbus, exploring and enjoying everything and everyone in his travels, including the many found objects he took home. He helped so many people with their projects and problems, giving of his time and handyman’s expertise as only an organized and generous-spirited person can do. He was always ready to take on new things, to get involved, to research a problem. Not aggressive, but he was somehow a natural leader, a “go to” guy. He was brilliant and extremely good with any sort of materials problem: wiring, plumbing, installations of all kinds. He was warm and fun and told us great stories. He organized everyday stuff incredibly efficiently in order, he said “to have more time to do the things I really take pleasure in doing.” He taught, not just in schools, but by the life he lived: quietly passionate, hard working, playful and free as a child, good-humored, contented, helpful and loving. And so, for us he left behind, “now it is grief ever after for ever after nothing less would ever do.”
A celebration of his amazing life will be held Wednesday, September 29, 2012, from Noon until 4 P.M., at a private residence. Email householder.memorial@gmail.com for details.