Thomas E. Price, 83, of Bowling Green, Ohio passed away on June 21, 2025. He was born April 28, 1942 in Norwalk, Ohio to the late Charles and Meta (Gerken) Price. He married Joy Bair on October 7, 1966 and she preceded him in death.
Sitting outside staring at the still, quiet shop, his Spirit is all around here as I figure out how to put on paper what is far too big for words. How do you capture a lifetime in just a few lines? I’m not sure, but what I do know is that he liked reading obituaries and he especially wanted to know how people died, so, here ya go: He was doing what he loved—preparing for a historic military event—and was fueling his beloved LVT, Tom’s Joy, when he fell. Likely he had a massive stroke that caused him to fall and suffer a catastrophic brain bleed. The doctor assured us he never suffered, so we can all take peace in that.
Dad graduated by the skin of his teeth from Norwalk High School in 1960. To no surprise to his parents, who watched him marching around with his toy rifle at 6 years old saying he was a Marine, he enlisted and served in the United States Marine Corps from October 1961 – February 1966. When he moved to Bowling Green in 1966 to work for Columbia Gas of Ohio, he met our mom, Joy. He then worked as a welder for Buckeye Pipeline before starting T.E. Price, Inc. Excavating and Trucking, which he owned and operated for 30 years.
Mom and Dad got married in 1966 and were married for 56 years until her passing in October of 2022. We all know how deeply he loved Joy and how much he missed her after she passed. He sat vigil with her as she made her transition just as we sat vigil with him. Dad went by many names, Tom, T.E. (some we cannot print), but the name he loved the most was Grampy. This man loved his grandkids to the moon and back, and they loved him too. His grandkids and then later his great-grandkids gave him the perfect excuse to remain a kid himself as he gave them mule rides through the thicket and up the tallest hill in Bowling Green. His great-grandkids called him Poppie/Papa Tom and they loved coming over to get their sugar fix because they knew that his house was better than a candy store.
Dad was known to say “once a Marine, always a Marine.” He lived up to that motto by staying active with his historical military vehicles, taking them to shows, fairs, and re-enactments. He and his LVT (Landing Vehicle Tracked) even had the opportunity to be in the movie “Flags of Our Fathers” where he named his LVT “Tom’s Joy.” He loved talking to people about the history of his vehicles and giving rides on his LVT.
Dad was many things, stubborn, hard-headed, soft hearted, and generous. He enjoyed the people he met and the friendships he made along the way. We loved his sense of humor and wit the most. His daughters loved to make him laugh. It was especially fun when he was missing a front tooth and trying not to smile (wink, wink, love you Dad!).
Tom is survived by his children Amy Price of Black Canyon City, Arizona, Nancy (Kevin) Aurand of Wayne, Ohio, and Lesley (Andy) Hollister of Boise, Idaho, step-son Robert (Candace) Ziegler of Bowling Green, Ohio, brother David (Faith) Price of Norwalk, Ohio, 10 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Dad also had an extended chosen family that we are so grateful for; it’s hard to imagine how he would have gotten through the past few years without Tim Robertson, Kenny Adams, and Ann Adams.
Dad is also survived by his demon cat, Terra. Any takers? (Just kidding, she’s been adopted.) Tom was preceded in death by his parents, wife Joy, and step-daughter Cindy Ziegler.
His funeral service will be held on Thursday June 26, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Dunn Funeral Home, located in the Historical District of Bowling Green at 408 W. Wooster St. Interment will follow at Portage Cemetery where military honors will be rendered by the United States Marines Corps. Visitation will be held Thursday morning at the funeral home from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 11:00 a.m.
Memorial contributions may be given to the Marine Corps Toys for Tots.
To share an online condolence or fond memory with the Price family, please visit www.dunnfuneralhome.com.
