Dr. Thomas W. Skaggs

Dr. Thomas W. Skaggs DDS, 87, passed away peacefully on February 3, 2018 in Naples, Florida.

Tom was born on February 12, 1930 to Glenn and Vera (Connolly) Skaggs in Jerseyville, IL.

He married Barbara Rinck on December 23, 1957 at the St. Louis Cathedral in St. Louis, MO. They were married for more than 53 years. Tom was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara (Rinck) Skaggs and brother Robert “Bob” Skaggs. He is survived by his loving children; Stephen Skaggs of St. Louis, MO, Michael Skaggs of Naples, FL and Janet Skaggs (Gerard Leech) of Duxbury, MA; his grandchildren, Sean Skaggs, Justin Skaggs, Adam Leech and Lydia Leech; and brothers’, Bob’s wife (Millie), Jim (Barbara), Glenn (Elsa) and John (Sara) Skaggs; and many nieces and nephews.

Tom grew up in Carrollton, IL and graduated from Carrollton High School in 1948. He had a love of music since he was a young boy and graduated from college with a degree in music from Western Illinois University in 1951. His first job out of college was as a music teacher. He then went on to dental school and received his DDS from Washington University in St. Louis, MO in 1958. Shortly after his graduation he was drafted into the Air Force and was stationed at Clinton Air Force Base in Oklahoma where he served two years as a Dentist. After his discharge as a Captain he set up his dental practice in Florissant, MO where he practiced for 38 years and retired in 1996. He was forever advancing his dental profession and practice and earned a Fellowship from the Academy of General Dentistry in July of 1983. He was also very active in the St. Louis Dental Research Group where he held the position of President several times. In 2002 Tom and Barbara left the St. Louis area and retired to Southwest Florida.

Tom was a caring and kind soul who was always a Gentleman. He was quite the performer, seizing any opportunity to sit down in front of a piano and play his favorite songs. He lived a wonderful and full life enjoying family, friends, and his many hobbies. His passions were the piano, jazz music, flying, sailing, golfing, fishing, photography and travel. Donations in Tom’s memory can be sent to https://curealz.org/giving/donate/. A memorial service will be held in his honor on July 21, 2018 at the Shields Bishop Funeral Home in Greenfield IL at 11:00 am.

Interment with full military rites provided by the Tri-County Honor guard will follow at the Oak Wood Cemetery north of Greenfield.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Dr. Thomas W. Skaggs, please visit our floral store.