1927
Thomas
2016
Thomas L. Cavanaugh
January 31, 1927 — February 3, 2016
Thomas L. Cavanaugh
Thomas L. Cavanaugh of Greencastle, PA passed away on Wednesday, February 3, 2016, three days after his 89th birthday. He was born in Washington D.C., on January 31, 1927 to William P. Cavanaugh and Christina Pfeil Cavanaugh. He graduated from St. Stevens Grammar School and entered St. Johns High School where he lettered in basketball; he also played many sports at the Georgetown Boys Club currently name The Jelleff Boys Club. He entered the Navy and was a proud WWII veteran. When he returned from the service he continued his education at Woodward Prep where he graduated. Later while working at Washington Gas Light Company he graduated from Southeastern University.
Tom was a long time resident of Edgewater, MD where he was a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church. He served as a Fourth Degree member of the St. Mary’s Knights of Columbus where he served as the Grand Knight and later was elected to many state positions for that organization. He was also a board member of the Shady Side Lions Club. After he moved to Greencastle, PA he was a member and active in St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church. He served until recently as an altar boy for morning mass. Tom also became commander of the Harry D. Zeigler Veterans of Foreign War Post #6319 of Greencastle and until his death he served as chaplain for the veteran’s group.
If Tom could tell you what he felt about his life he would tell you that he loved his church, he was a patriot, loved his sports, he never missed watching the Orioles and the Redskins and he was a proud Irishman that loved to tell stories. Above all, he enjoyed being the Patriarch of the Cavanaugh family.
Tom was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years Doris Cope Cavanaugh and a son Shawn T. Cavanaugh. He is survived by a son T. Pat Cavanaugh and his wife Molly of Conyers, GA; two daughters Cathy Twigg and her husband Danny of Martinsburg,WV; Kerry Lewis and her husband Randy of Spotsylvania, VA; a brother Amiel “Moosie” Cavanaugh of Clover, VA; a sister Betty Vakas of Arnold, MD; nine grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren and many nephews and nieces.
A Mass of Celebration will be held on Saturday February 13 at 1:00 PM at the St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church 385 S. Ridge Ave. Greencastle, PA with Rev. Joseph Carolin officiating. Interment will be held at a later date at the Arlington National Cemetery. Following mass, a special ceremony will be held at the Harry D. Zeigler V.F.W. Post #6319. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Tom and Doris Cavanaugh to the Hospice of the Panhandle 330 Hospice Lane Kearneysville, WV 25430. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.zimmermanfh.com. Arrangements were handled by the Harold M. Zimmerman And Son Funeral Home of Greencastle.
Thomas L. Cavanaugh of Greencastle, PA passed away on Wednesday, February 3, 2016, three days after his 89th birthday. He was born in Washington D.C., on January 31, 1927 to William P. Cavanaugh and Christina Pfeil Cavanaugh. He graduated from St. Stevens Grammar School and entered St. Johns High School where he lettered in basketball; he also played many sports at the Georgetown Boys Club currently name The Jelleff Boys Club. He entered the Navy and was a proud WWII veteran. When he returned from the service he continued his education at Woodward Prep where he graduated. Later while working at Washington Gas Light Company he graduated from Southeastern University.
Tom was a long time resident of Edgewater, MD where he was a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church. He served as a Fourth Degree member of the St. Mary’s Knights of Columbus where he served as the Grand Knight and later was elected to many state positions for that organization. He was also a board member of the Shady Side Lions Club. After he moved to Greencastle, PA he was a member and active in St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church. He served until recently as an altar boy for morning mass. Tom also became commander of the Harry D. Zeigler Veterans of Foreign War Post #6319 of Greencastle and until his death he served as chaplain for the veteran’s group.
If Tom could tell you what he felt about his life he would tell you that he loved his church, he was a patriot, loved his sports, he never missed watching the Orioles and the Redskins and he was a proud Irishman that loved to tell stories. Above all, he enjoyed being the Patriarch of the Cavanaugh family.
Tom was preceded in death by his wife of 70 years Doris Cope Cavanaugh and a son Shawn T. Cavanaugh. He is survived by a son T. Pat Cavanaugh and his wife Molly of Conyers, GA; two daughters Cathy Twigg and her husband Danny of Martinsburg,WV; Kerry Lewis and her husband Randy of Spotsylvania, VA; a brother Amiel “Moosie” Cavanaugh of Clover, VA; a sister Betty Vakas of Arnold, MD; nine grandchildren, sixteen great-grandchildren and many nephews and nieces.
A Mass of Celebration will be held on Saturday February 13 at 1:00 PM at the St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church 385 S. Ridge Ave. Greencastle, PA with Rev. Joseph Carolin officiating. Interment will be held at a later date at the Arlington National Cemetery. Following mass, a special ceremony will be held at the Harry D. Zeigler V.F.W. Post #6319. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in memory of Tom and Doris Cavanaugh to the Hospice of the Panhandle 330 Hospice Lane Kearneysville, WV 25430. Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.zimmermanfh.com. Arrangements were handled by the Harold M. Zimmerman And Son Funeral Home of Greencastle.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Thomas L. Cavanaugh, please visit our flower store.