Robert Thomas "Tom" Straughn

Robert Thomas (Tom) Straughn, age 88 passed away after a brief illness on December 24, 2022, during his favorite holiday season – Christmas. Tom was born on April 7, 1934, in Massillon, Ohio to the late Rose Ann and Earl Straughn.

Tom was a 1952 graduate of Massillon Washington High School. During high school he played running back for the Tigers and ran track. It was in high school that Tom met the love of his life, Nancy Vosper. Tom and Nancy married on September 3, 1956, and celebrated 66 years of marriage this past September. Tom served in the United States Army at Fort Knox, Kentucky for two years.

An entrepreneur Tom opened his first clothing store, “Tom Straughn’s Fashion World” in 1955. Later, Tom along with his wife added a woman’s clothing store “El Patio” and Merle Norman Cosmetics. Tom loved serving his community and dressing everyone who walked into the store. Upon the closing of his retails stores he continued to work in the clothing industry throughout the midwestern states for 36 years.

Tom loved his hometown of Massillon and served in many ways: past President of Downtown Massillon Merchant Association, past President of the Massillon Club, served on the Massillon AAA Board of Trustees and Corporate AAA Board. An avid Massillon Tigers fan, he had season tickets for over 50 years and served as President of the Massillon Tiger Booster Club in 1963. He was a lifelong member of First Christian Church where he served as an Elder. He was also a member of numerous clubs and organizations: Elks, Eagles, Massillon Museum, The Heritage Foundation/Massillon Woman’s Club, Turkeyfoot Island Club and Stark County Republicans.

In addition to loving his family and community, Tom had a great love for vacationing in Canada at the former Opinicon Lodge. Casting a line and keeping the line tight on Opinicon Lake off the North end of Snake Island brought him so much joy and he shared this joy with his children, grandchildren and many friends for over 50 years. In honor of Tom and his love of fishing and making a fresh catch shore lunch on Snake Island his family and friends had a shelter/pavilion made and named in Pappa’s Shelter. He never met a stranger and always had a smile and a friendly firm handshake that you won’t soon forget.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother John (Jack) Straughn.

He is survived by his wife Nancy and children Robert (Bob) Thomas (Kellie) Straughn II, Jane (David) Zito and James (Lisa) Straughn; grandchildren Robert (Thomas) (Mallory)Straughn III, Jilian Straughn, Taylor (Anthony) Butch, Madison (Landon) Cason, and Katie (Colin) McCree; and great grandchildren Oakley and Harlow Straughn, Frank and Jack Butch and Violet Cason.

Tom’s wish was to be cremated. Friends may call from 2:00pm until 3:00pm on Friday, December 30, 2022 at the Paquelet Funeral Home. A service honoring Tom’s life will follow at 3:00pm with Reverend Ralph Ricksecker officiating.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Massillon Museum or charity of your choice in memory of Tom.