Thomas J. McCarthy, Sr. April 21, 1940 - September 16, 2022

Thomas J. McCarthy, Sr., 82, of Orefield, passed away Friday, September 16, 2022, in Cornerstone Living, New Tripoli. He was the loving husband of Barbara A. (Brogan) McCarthy. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary May 19th. Tom was born in Queens, NY a son of the late William F. and Dorothy (Lorenz) McCarthy.

He proudly served his country in the US Army and was deeply patriotic.   Tom was employed as a Field Service Manager for IBM for 30 years until retiring in 1993.  Tom’s work ethic and commitment to excellence distinguished him throughout his career.  He was famous for his motivational quotes, “persistence breaks resistance” “To achieve all that is possible, you must attempt the impossible. To be as much as you can be, you must dream of being more! Always raise the bar of excellence!” After retirement, he served as a branch manager for Laidlaw Transit and later drove school bus for the Parkland School District.  Tom loved music and playing the “boom-bas”.   He was always the life of the party!  His sense of humor and his love for his family, “safety first” will always be embedded in our hearts as we memorialize him today.  Tom was a member of St. Joseph the Worker Church, Orefield.

He will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Barbara;  sons, Tom, Jr.(Shelly) of Audubon, PA, Jim of Hellertown, Justin (Heather) of Mechanicsburg; daughters, Kerrie Armbruster (Mark Happel) of Allentown; Suzie (Mike Vilcheck) of Slatington; sisters, Catherine Kammerer, Patti Taibe and her husband Arthur all of New Smyrna Beach, FL; brother-in-law, Al Pruss of Gainesville, FL; grandchildren, Kyle, Jessica, Ryan, Patrick, Kiersten, Christian, Jacqueline, Autumn, Luke, Zoe; great-grandchildren, Kaedyn, Logan and Avery. Tom also loved his many nieces and nephews extending 3 generations.

He was predeceased by his siblings, Dorothy, William, Elaine, twin brother, John and Maryann.

Services: A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 A.M. Thursday, September 22nd in the St. Joseph the Worker Church 1879 Applewood Drive, Orefield. Friends and family may call from 6:00 – 8:00 P.M. Wednesday and 8:45 – 9:45 A.M. Thursday in the Stephens Funeral Home, Inc. 274 North Krocks Road, Allentown. Interment will be private in the Resurrection Cemetery with military honors.

Contributions: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Place Memphis, TN 38105 or Cornerstone Living 4605 Werley’s Corner Road, New Tripoli 18066.