More detail on this person: NORWALK - The
Honorable Thomas E. Heydinger, Judge Retired,
age 71, of Norwalk, Ohio.
Thomas "Tom" was born on the family farm on
August 24, 1940 in Plymouth, Ohio. He was born to
the late Herbert J. "Whitey" and Erma A.
(Sheibley) Heydinger.
Tom graduated from the Pontifical College
Josephinum, Columbus, Ohio, the University of
Dayton, Dayton, Ohio, and Ohio Northern College of
Law in Ada, Ohio. Tom served his country as a
captain in the U. S. Army, 1st Calvary Division
during the Vietnam War as a helicopter pilot and
later as a military lawyer in the JAG Corps and
was awarded the Bronze Star and the Army Air
Medal for his service.
Tom was admitted to practice in the Ohio Supreme
Court in 1967, US Federal Court for Northern
District of Ohio in 1971, and the US Supreme Court
in 1974.
Tom had a long history of service to his state and
local governments beginning with his serving as a
county court judge in Crawford County Ohio in
1971. From there he served as Assistant to the
Attorney General of the State of Ohio and then
returned to the area working as the assistant
prosecuting attorney of Huron County Ohio. Tom
was appointed by then Governor John J. Gilligan to
the position of judge of The Huron County Common
Pleas Court Probate and Juvenile Division in 1975
and was subsequently elected and re-elected
serving continuously for 28 years until 2002 when
he retired from the position. During his tenure
and into retirement Tom served on numerous
occasions being assigned by the Ohio Supreme
Court as a visiting Juvenile Judge in the Court of
Cuyahoga County, and Court of Appeals Eighth
Appellate District also of Cuyahoga County and in
various Probate, Juvenile and Municipal Courts in
Seneca, Huron, Sandusky, Erie, Lake, and Lucas
counties filling in for other judges as needed. He
was recognized 8 times by the Ohio Supreme Court
for Outstanding Judicial Service.
Tom introduced the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse
Resistance Education) Program to Huron County in
1988. He instituted the Reach Our Youth (R.O.Y.)
Program in Huron County in 1978. He also
instituted C.A.S.A (Court Appointed Special
Advocates) Program in Huron County in 1989. He
was very proud of these programs and the good
people who have continued to run these programs
over the years. After retirement, he was appointed
in 2008 as an interim 58th District Ohio State
Representative.
Professionally Tom was a member of the National
Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges and
the Ohio Association of Juvenile and Family Court
Judges. He served as the President of the Ohio
Association of Juvenile and Family Court Judges
from 1989 to 1990. He also served as a trustee of
the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court
Judges and on various committees within that
association.
Civically Tom was a member of The Vietnam
Veterans of America, life member of the American
Legion Post 41, life member of the Veterans of
Foreign Wars Post 2743, the Benevolent and
Protective Order of Elks and the Fraternal Order
of Eagles.
Tom also was a life member of the Knights of
Columbus (4th degree) and parishioner of St.
Paul's Catholic parish where he served on
numerous committees over the years. Tom enjoyed
serving annually at Buckeye Boys State since
1986. He also worked very hard for the interests
of the Western Reserve Land Conservancy hoping
to provide for natural spaces to be enjoyed for
many years in the future.
He is survived by his wife, Margaret "Peggy"
Heydinger to whom he married at Wakeman St.
Mary's Catholic Church on November 28, 1980;
children David (Lisa) Hedrick of Norwalk and Kelly
(Timothy) Kohler of Waterville, Ohio.
Grandchildren Faye, Kathleen, Julia, Colleen,
Grady, Meghan, Davis, and Ryan.; sister Carol
(John) Ensman of Shelby, OH; brothers Edwin
(Carole) of New Burgh, Ind.; Gerard (Cha Cha)
Heydinger of Mission Viejo, Ca.; and Herman (Lyda)
Heydinger of Palm Bay, Fla.; and numerous nieces
and nephews.
Tom was truly appreciative to have had the
opportunity to serve the fine people of Huron
County for so many years. He was so very
concerned about the long term well being of the
youth of this county and with his wonderful staff
and affiliated county organizations worked
tirelessly to improve their lives and futures.
Friends may call on Wednesday July 11 from 3-8
p.m. at the Evans Funeral Home, 314 E. Main St.,
Norwalk, OH. A Mass of Christian Burial will take
place on Thursday July 12 at 10:30 a.m. at St.
Paul Catholic Church, 91 E. Main St., Norwalk. The
Rev. Frank Kehres, pastor of the church, will
officiate. Burial with military honors will follow
at St. Paul Cemetery.
Memorial contributions can be made to St. Paul
High School tuition fund or Reach Our Youth
(R.O.Y.) Program of Huron County.
Condolences may be shared at norwalkfuneral.com.
Published in The Morning Journal from July 10 to
July 11, 2012
This information was last updated 05/18/2016
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