Remembering Don Padgett as funny, knowledgeable and compassionate man

COSHOCTON − A former local business owner and a man who was referred to as friend to all has died.

Don Padgett died April 15 at the age of 82. He was married for 48 years to Joy Padgett, a former member of the Ohio Senate and one-time candidate for lieutenant governor.

Don was owner of Main Office Supply from 1980 to 2006 and of Padgett's Bakery from 2010 to 2011. He was a member of Sacred Heart Church, the Eagles and AMVETS. Don was known to always have something going on. In 2013, he shared with the Tribune how he converted an old church building on Burt Avenue into a unique home.

Joy said most people only knew the fun loving and funny public persona. She knew him as a man of many talents and interests. He was a designer and builder. He liked to read, ride motorcycles and play with his dogs. Joy felt they were total opposites when they first met, but then she got to know him.

"You know that song 'Coat of Many Colors?' Well, he was a person of many personalities," Joy said. "He was very much family connected. His faith was really important to him. But, most people didn't see that side of him.

"Don was the most intelligent person I've ever known," Joy said and then adding with a laugh, "Maybe not a lot of common sense sometimes."

Tom Edwards, owner of Auer Ace Hardware, was a longtime friend. Don was born in Linton, Indiana, just across the river from where Edwards grew up in Henderson, Kentucky. They would often talk about the area. They were also both longtime smokers.

Edwards recalled them both trying to quit together years ago by wearing nicotine patches that are supposed to curb the urge to smoke. "One day we were standing on the sidewalk outside Main Office Supply and we both had a patch on our shoulder, but out of habit we both pulled out a cigarette and fired one up; smoking and withdrawing at the same time," Edwards recalled.

Stephanie Ruby worked for Don starting in 1979 when he started Sprint Print and then moved over to Main Office Supply. She worked for the Padgetts for more than 20 years. Ruby said he had a kind and caring heart and he was always willing to help somebody in need.

"He had a really unique way of viewing the world and was very knowledgeable about many subjects. Whenever you talked to him, you could count on him to come up with an interesting perspective," she said. "I always admired his ability to put a positive spin on whatever came up, whatever was going on. He approached most things with a sense of humor."

Don was also a former member of the Coshocton County Republican Central Committee and was involved in politics on a larger level through Joy. Steve Hall, president of the Coshocton County Republican Party, said he first met Joy and Don when he got involved in politics about 25 years ago.

"He always made a friend. It didn't take him more than two minutes to find somebody to talk to," Hall recalled of attending various campaign stops and such with Joy over the years.

One time, Hall road with Don to participate in a parade. The whole time Don told Hall stories about Coshocton's past, including Roscoe Village.

"He was like a walking history book to me," Hall said. "He had a wealth of history and knowledge of the community, of Coshocton and Roscoe. He really enjoyed living here in the community and the people."

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with burial in South Lawn Cemetery. Memorial donations in Don's name can be made to Sacred Heart School or the Coshocton County Animal Shelter.

Leonard Hayhurst is a community content coordinator and general news reporter for the Coshocton Tribune with more than 15 years of local journalism experience and multiple awards from the Ohio Associated Press. He can be reached at 740-295-3417 or llhayhur@coshoctontribune.com. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @llhayhurst.

This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: Local business owner Don Padgett dies at age 82