Thomas F. Hametz, 86, of Weatherly, Pennsylvania, died while playing golf Friday afternoon at the Mountain Valley Golf Course in Barnesville.
Born in Beaver Meadows on January 24th, 1922, he was the son of the late George and Anna (Sullin) Hametz.
He was a member of Sts. Peter and Paul Byzantine Catholic Church in Beaver Meadows. He was also a member of the church choir.
After graduating from Hazleton High School in 1939, Thomas joined the Civilian Conservation Corps and helped build roads in Arizona and Wyoming. He was then employed by the shipyards in Baltimore, Maryland, before enlisting in the Navy, where he participated in minesweeping operations with the first United States forces to enter Japan.
Tom furthered his education at Wilkes and Penn State Universities. Prior to retirement, he was employed at Tung-Sol as a supervisor and later at RCA.
Tom was an expert woodworker and gardener, and he loved solving mechanical problems.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers John, Michael and George, twin brother Joseph, and sisters Anna and Mary Pennock.
Tom is survived by his wife Patricia (Burke); son Timothy and his wife Anne of Edinboro, PA; son and best buddy Nick; daughter Lisbeth of Hazleton, PA; brother Robert of Burtonsville, MD; granddaughters Katharine Grau and her husband Rob, Jessica and Lauren; and great-granddaughter Kendall. Also, nieces Sandra, Jean, Karen, Diane, and Janette; nephews Mark and Thomas Pennock; and aunt Martha Lonzinski of Hazleton, PA.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday, August 26th, 2008, at 9:30 AM, from the Philip J. Jeffries Funeral Home, 211 First Street, Weatherly, PA.
The Divine Liturgy with Office of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 AM from Sts. Peter and Paul Byzantine Catholic Church, 119 Berwick Street in Beaver Meadows. Rev. Peter Donish will be the celebrant.
Interment will be in the parish cemetery.
Friends may call at the funeral home on Monday from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. A Parastas service will be conducted at 7:00 PM.
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Funeral arrangements entrusted to: Philip J. Jeffries Funeral Home, 211 First Street, Weatherly, PA, 18255. Telephone: (570) 427-4231.
Heartfelt prayers go out to you all. I knew Tom as softshoe and liked him very much. He was always a warm caring person and great spades player. I will miss him - he will be greatly missed. May God give you the peace that he is only able to provide at this time. I go by the nic Praiser. God be with you all.
Posted by: Pat ( nic- Praiser) | August 24, 2008 at 05:46 PM
Our families thoughts and prayers are with all or you. Uncle Tom was an excellent Dad, Grandpa and a fine Uncle. I remember visits with the Hametz family as a small child, playing with Liz and Nicky and marveling at Uncle Tom's vast workshop (lots of neat stuff in there). Later as an adult, I marveled at his skill as a gardener (and as a cook of his own fresh produce) and enjoyed golfing with him.
He was an example of what Tom Brokaw calls the Greatest Generation. He will be missed.
Jon Burke, nephew
Posted by: Jon Burke | August 26, 2008 at 10:33 AM