Thomas R. Sword, age 95, of Sterling, OH passed away peacefully on Monday morning, April 17, 2023, at The Inn at CoalRidge in Wadsworth, following a period of declining health.
Tom was born on July 27, 1927, in Fort Gay, West Virginia, to the late Fred and Ida (Damron) Sword, and served as a PFC in Japan for the United States Army during the World War II era.
He worked in the utility department for the former Packaging Corporation of America for 42 years, retiring in 1989.
Tom was a member of Rittman Moose. He enjoyed being with his family and was always willing to lend a hand. He liked listening to music, and played instruments such as the Jew’s Harp, harmonica, guitar, and fiddle. He also enjoyed cutting firewood throughout the summer, squirrel hunting and ginseng hunting, riding motorcycles, tinkering and fixing things, and going on fishing trips with his brother Hubert to Canada.
Surviving are son, Jerry (Kathy) Sword of Seville; two daughters, Connie (Richard) Murphy of Wooster, Peggy (Jonathan) Bragg of Sterling; six grandchildren, David (Dora) Sword of Wadsworth, Aaron (Stephanie) Sword of Lodi, Kevin (Andrea) Sword of Kannapolis, NC, BJ (Marke) Moore of Wooster, Jeremy McMillan of Orrville, and Brandon (Kelly Woodruff) McMillan of Wooster; 11 great grandchildren, Bri, Camryn, Tommy, Easton, Josh, Haley, Eli, Jaydan (Sean), Charleigh, Kealey (Daniel) and McKenna; 3 great great grandchildren, Garrett, Myla Jo, and Xion; and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by the mother of his children, Dora Taggart, daughter-in-law Melissa Sword, brothers Alton, Fred Jr., Nathan, Hubert, Woodrow, and Reuben, sisters Gracie Mae, Imogene, and Gertrude, and 2 infant sisters.
Friends may call from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Thursday, April 20, 2023, at Auble-Gillman Funeral Home, 360 W. Sunset Dr., Rittman, where military rites will be held at 8:00pm.
Funeral services will be conducted Saturday, April 22, 2023 at 12:00 PM in the Young Funeral Home Chapel. Friends may visit the family on Saturday, April 22, 2023 from 11:00 AM until time of service in the Young Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in the Sword Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to MooseHeart Child City and School, 155 S. International Dr., Mooseheart, IL 60539, or Ohio’s Hospice Lifecare, 1900 Akron Rd., Wooster, OH 44691.
A special thank you to Ohio’s Hospice LifeCare, especially the singing preacher Daron, and the staff at the Inn at CoalRidge for their exceptional care.
Young Funeral Home and Auble-Gillman Funeral Home have been entrusted with the care of Mr. Sword and his family.
