Thomas W. Ebenhoh

Thomas W. Ebenhoh, age 83, of St. Louis, Missouri, quietly passed away in the early hours of the morning on September 23, 2024 at Delmar Gardens O’Fallon.

Tom was born on November 16, 1940, to Lincoln and Rose (Acksel) Ebenhoh. He attended Mehlville High School in Lemay, Missouri, and went on to study at Washington University in St. Louis earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Graphic Design. After college, Tom worked in the graphic design department at HOK St. Louis for several years, where he was inspired to begin his lifelong career as a freelance photographer and artist. He served in both the Army and the Army National Guard.

In 1990, after decades of photographing the Gateway Arch in St. Louis as a side hobby, Tom published Arch Celebration, a photography book celebrating the monument’s 25th anniversary. Arch Celebration included many of the images he had taken of the Arch from nearly every spot in the city and personal stories and remembrances from local residents gathered by friend and writer Steve Givens.

Tom saw the world closely, in all it’s detail, and shared his life’s view through his photographs and artwork. In the thousands of family photographs he created, we sense the love and joy he had for his family. His artwork explored the emotions of color and space, creating the visual feelings of visiting a harbor, for example, rather than painting the water and boats. He taught his children to see the world’s details as well, developing prints in his home dark room, often with one of them watching nearby. Tom shared his kindness, generosity, creativity, humor, artistry, and love of movies with others and saw the best in those around him. 

Known as “Dad” to his children, and “Grandpa Tom” to his many loving grandchildren and great-grandchildren, his loss has been and will continue to be felt greatly. But known for bringing a loveable goofiness into any room he entered with a big smile and greeting of “Hiya!”, we can only imagine the warm greeting that Tom received in turn upon entering heaven today.

Tom is survived by his four children and their families, Jeannette (Joe) Koch, Tom (Terri Borgman) Ebenhoh, Carol (Peter MacKeith) Weaver, and Dave (Maureen) Ebenhoh, 12 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren, and his former wife, Jeannette Stoughton. In peace he joins his parents, his brother, James Ebenhoh, and his nephew, Gary Ebenhoh.

In Tom's memory, a casual gathering will be held on Saturday, November 16th from 2:00 – 4:00pm at Pavilion #7 in Forest Park (Wells Dr., near Skinker Blvd. Entrance) with cookies and frisbees. In lieu of flowers, simply gather any art supplies you have (even just a ballpoint pen will do) and take a moment to make marks on paper. The result will surprise you. 

Donations may be made to the Humane Society of St. Louis or the St. Louis Public Library.