Thomas James Scannell

Thomas James Scannell, age 58, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, April 2nd after a four-year battle with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). A devoted husband and loving father, he is survived by his wife, Sun, and their three sons, Joshua, Zachary, and Alexander Scannell of Spring, Texas; his parents Dennis and Joyce Scannell of Middletown, Ohio; and siblings John Scannell of Middletown, Ohio, and Kate Scannell of Kettering, Ohio.

He was known as a highly intelligent and talented leader in military, industry, and community. He was a loyal friend, mentor and coach, who exerted a significant, positive influence on his associates and those soldiers and employees with whom he interacted. He is fondly remembered for his quick sense of humor, jovial personality, and compassion for others.

Tom was a native of Middletown Ohio, where he attended Middletown High School earning letters in football, swimming, lacrosse, and golf. He was active in the Middletown YMCA Leader's Club in high school[KC1] .

Tom was a graduate of the United States Military Academy’s Class of 1989, earning a Bachelor of Science degree. He was a proud member of the “Polar Bears” of Company I, 3rd Regiment, U.S. Corps of Cadets. Commissioned as an Infantry officer, he was assigned to Eighth U.S. Army, Korea, where he served with distinction in the 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, at Camp Hovey, and later in the 5th Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment at Camp Casey, Korea.

While in Korea, Tom met and married his wife Sun, who he readily acknowledged as “the love of his life,” and with whom he shared 35 wonderful years. She was his best friend, confidant, golfing partner, and travel companion, with whom they created a close-knit and loving family.

Following completion of the Infantry Officers’ Advanced Course, he was promoted to Captain and assigned to 1st Battalion, 11th Infantry, U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), at Fort Benning, Georgia.

During his service, he was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal with Oak Leaf cluster, the National Defense Service Medal, Korean Defense Service Medal, Expert Infantry Badge and Parachutist Badge.

Tom resigned from the Army in 1993 to pursue a career in business. He quickly rose to the executive ranks in the box and paper industry. For over twenty years, he served in positions of increasing responsibility at such companies as Inland Paper, Smurfit-Stone, and IndusCorr, and as Plant Manager, in turn, for Georgia-Pacific (Memphis operations), Rusken, Action Box, and the Drake Company. During this time, he earned a Master of Science degree in Management from Regis University in Denver, Colorado.

In 2015, he transitioned to the bath industry as Vice President, Royal Baths Manufacturing Company and later Plant Manager for Aquatic, before rising to the position of Regional Operations Manager of American Bath Group. He retired in October 2021, shortly following his diagnosis.

Tom was an avid golfer and a devoted fan of the West Point and Alabama University football and sports teams. He was a prolific reader, with an impressive ability to recite his favorite quotes from books, TV shows and movies, and seemed to always know when to deliver a famous line at the appropriate moment. This ability along with his wit and unique style of comedic genius made others gravitate toward him which resulted in many lifelong friendships.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, April 12th at 11:00 pm at the Brookside Funeral Home, located at 3410 Cypress Creek Parkway, Houston, Texas. In lieu of flowers, donations in Tom’s memory may be made to the ALS Association (www.als.org) to help those with ALS and research to find a cure