Breeder/owner Thomas H. York Jr., 92, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family and friends on Tuesday, May 17 at his home in Newark, Ohio following a brief illness.
He was born to the late Thomas and Alma (Formy-Durval) York on February 24, 1924, in Goldsboro, N.C. He began his illustrious career in the wood business working as a labourer at the Dean Company in Portsmouth, Va., in 1948. Even in these early years, he had a passion for logs and their procurement. By 1958, he had become a successful full-time log buyer and eventually became the vice president of procurement for the Dean Company. He moved to Princeton, W.V., in 1956 to open their new veneer operation and remained there until 1973 when he came to central Ohio.
Mr. York moved to Zanesville, Ohio, when he got the opportunity to purchase Southeast Ohio Timber, as well as a pallet company, Industrial Crate and Lumber. One of his biggest overseas log customers wanted to build a veneer mill operation in central Ohio. Mr. York assembled a group of people and this business venture became Universal Veneer, one of the leading veneer mills in the world. He was one of the most dedicated and involved custom cutters at Universal Veneer and remained so until his retirement from the wood business.
He also had a passion for Standardbred racehorses and devoted 30-plus years to being deeply involved in the sport as an owner and breeder, working with trainers Terry Holton and, most recently, Jim Arledge Jr. He owned such standouts as Striking Memory, world champion and champion Ohio three-year-old filly trotter of 2002; Son Sum p, 4, 1:52.4f ($110,161) and 2015 Buckette winner Classical Annie. He and his wife, Kathy, loved to travel the country to spend time with friends and watch their horses compete.
York was a competitive gin player, both in Newark and in Naples, Fla., where he and Kathy spent their winters. He was an avid golfer all his life, playing well into his 70s.
He is survived by his wife of 15 years, Kathleen (Diemoz) York. He also leaves behind his son, Thomas Craig York of Morrilton, Ak.; daughters, Donna (Larry) Kinzer of Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Robin (Donald) Bowman of Princeton, W.V., Ellen (Gregg) Beckett of Princeton, W.V.; stepdaughter, Lisa (Monte) Moore of Newark; stepson, Carl ‘Chip’ Keenan of Newark; sisters, Aline Woodard and Joyce Casey, both of Goldsboro, N.C.; 14 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren.
York is preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, and two sisters.
A funeral service for Thomas H. York, Jr., will be held on Monday, May 23 at 11:00 a.m. at Brucker and Kishler Funeral Home, 985 N. 21st Street, Newark, OH 43055. Family will greet friends on Sunday (May 22) from 4-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Hospice of Central Ohio (hospiceofcentralohio.org), P.O. Box 430, Newark, OH 43058-0430.
To sign an online guestbook, please visit brucker-kishlerfuneralhome.com.
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