Thomas S. Starry Obituary
Thomas S. Starry, 90, of Tamaqua, PA died on Sunday, April 7, 2019 in Bethlehem, PA. He was the husband of Ann Marie (nee Schoener) Starry to whom he would have been married 62 years in May. Born in Coaldale, PA on June 3, 1928, Thomas was a son of the late Matthew and Susan (nee Harvilla) Starry. A 1946 graduate of the former Coaldale High School, he served in the Navy during WWII.
Tom retired from Air Products where he was employed as a forklift driver. He also had been employed at the #10 mine, Bethlehem Steel, and Diversified Metals over the course of his employment career. For 35 years, you could find Thomas at the Hometown Auction selling and trading baseball cards from his business "Tom's Sport Collectibles".
An accomplished long-distance runner, he represented Coaldale High School at the Penn Relays. Tom served on the Tamaqua Advisory Committee for many years. He was a Notre Dame fan and a NASCAR fan following the career of Jimmy Johnson who was his favorite driver. An avid gardener, Tom took great pride in both his flowers and his tomatoes.
He is survived by son Thomas Starry of Tamaqua; daughter, Kelly Smith and her husband Jason of Vernon Hills, IL; grandson, Joel Thomas Smith; brother, Edward Starry of Fairless Hills, PA; sister, Eleanor Inglima of California; sister-in-law, Theresa Starry of Lansford, PA; and many nephews and nieces. Tom was predeceased by his siblings, Mary Collins, Margaret Rapant, Matthew Starry, Robert Starry, Rosemary Starry and step brothers, John Tomasovich and Joseph Tomasovich.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 AM on Friday, April 12 in St. John XXIII Catholic Church, 307 Pine Street, Tamaqua. Interment in Sky View Memorial Park, Hometown will follow the mass. Call 9 AM – 10:30 AM on Friday at the Zizlemann-Gulla Funeral Home, 500 East Broad Street, Tamaqua. Memorials in Thomas's name may be made to The Parish of St. John XXIII, 307 Pine Street, Tamaqua, PA 18252.
Arrangements are being handled by the Zizelmann-Gulla Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., Tamaqua.
