Thomas "Tom" Ira Osteen

Thomas Ira Osteen, 81 of Kettering, formerly of Wilmington, passed peacefully in his sleep and will be sadly missed by all who knew him on Wednesday, August 19th, 2020. He is survived by his wife Barbara Joan, daughter Deborah Conley, granddaughter Lauren Stewart, brother Robert (Louise) of Ft. Pierce, FL, sister Glenda of Pennsylvania, several brothers & sister-in-law's that were truly his siblings and many nieces and nephews.

At age 2, Thomas lost his mother to tuberculosis. His father later married Ethel Suggs who raised him and Robert & Judith as her own. Their family grew over the years with the births of William, Glenda and Reginald. Tom spent his younger years bicycling to the jetty's in Ft. Pierce to fish. Tom was an Eagle Scout. After graduation from Dan McCarty High School in 1957 Tom entered the Navy and served honorably.

Tom met Barbara’s uncle in Florida and travelled to Ohio where they later married on Christmas Eve in 1960 and began their almost 60 years of life together. They spent summers camping and fishing and brought up their daughter enjoying the same experiences. Fall always included a “guy's trip” deer hunting in the primitive hills of northeastern Ohio. Some of the best hunting & camping was spent in that region with the families of Walter Clark, Bob Brown & Charlie Nickell.

Tom & Barbara spent most of their marriage in Trenton, Ohio where he retired from Magnode Corporation. Vacations were always centered around family with annual trips to Florida to fish and catch up with family. Later years, fishing other parts of the gulf coast and last year finally making it to Lake Erie was a treat! Health issues limited any further fishing adventures but that did not stop us from talking about them.

He loved to garden and canned the best green beans! He enjoyed tinkering in the garage and could fix anything! A true family man who would always stand by your side. He was patient, humble, giving, loving, supportive and our everything. There will never be another man with such beautiful blue eyes.

He was preceded in death by parents Wallace and Dahlia, stepmother Ethel, sister Judith, brothers William and Reginald and best friend Walter Clark.

Family and friends are invited to share their memories of Tom with his family during visitation on Sunday, August 23rd, 2020 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. followed by Celebration of Life at 3:00 p.m. at Tobias Funeral Home, 5471 Far Hills Ave, Dayton, OH 45429. Condolences may be sent to www.tobiasfuneralhome.com