Thomas William Mesley

Thomas William Mesley, 93, of 588 Lindsey Avenue, Meadville, passed away, Wednesday, November 23, 2011 at VNA Hospice House in Vero Beach, Florida. He was born in Troy, New York on February 5, 1918 a son of Joseph Mesley and Mary Malek Mesley. He married Dorothy S. Mailliard on April 11, 1942, at Saint Hippolyte Church in Frenchtown, she passed away November 18, 2010. Thomas moved to Meadville in 1940 from Albany, New York after F.W. Woolworth Company transferred him to manage their Meadville location. He enlisted in the US Army on December 1, 1941, and was stationed in Europe as a Tech Sergeant with the 26th Infantry Division. While in Europe he was involved in battles in Northern France, Ardennes, the Rhineland, and Central Europe. He was awarded the American Defense Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the European African Middle Eastern Service Medal, and four Bronze Stars. He was honorably discharged in October 1945. After returning home from the war, Thomas went to work for the Erie Lackawana Railroad, Kebort Construction, Wentworth Ford, Carpenter Packaging in Townville, and went on to retire from Dad's Products Company as an accountant in 1988. He was a member of Saint Agatha Roman Catholic Church and was an alter server at Mass of Christian Burials for many years. A lifelong sports aficionado and fan of the New York Yankees, he was an avid spectator and participant in athletics and had played baseball in the Guys Mills Men's Baseball League. Besides athletics Thomas was active in the lives of his grandchildren, always being there to support them in any way he could. He is survived by five children, Father Jeri Mesley of Gallup, New Mexico, Gene Mesley and his wife Kathy of Vero Beach, Florida, Rick Mesley and his wife Vicki of Paoli, Pennsylvania, Rita Mesley of Erie, Pennsylvania, and Dan Mesley and his wife Lana of Meadville, Pennsylvania; twelve grandchildren, Deborah Jones and her husband Brian of Lehigh Acres, Florida, Michael Mesley of Vero Beach, Florida, Brenda VanValen and her husband Jim of Mount Vernon, Iowa, Rebecca Rosenberg and her husband Andrew of Salt Lake City, Utah, Sara Mesley of Salt Lake City, Utah, Kathleen Robbins and her husband Kelly of Salt Lake City, Utah, Susan Melsey of Vero Beach, Florida, Amy Ryer and her husband Edward of Morris Plain, New Jersey, Elizabeth Mesley of Paoli, Pennsylvania, and Joseph, Alex, and Laura Mesley of Meadville, Pennsylvania; eleven great-grandchildren, Mark, Jefferson, Emma, Alexandra, Samuel, Ava, Benjamin, Andrew, Maysie, Katherine, and Matthew; a brother, Frank Mesley; and a sister Lil Burke. He was preceded in death by his loving wife Dorothy of 68 years, his parents, two brothers, John and Leo Mesley; and a sister Helen Keefe. Family and friends are welcome to call on Monday, November 28th from 5:00pm and 8:00pm at Roofner-Collins-Warren Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., 544 Chestnut Street, Meadville. There will be a rosary service at 7:00pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, November 29th at 10:00am at Saint Agatha Roman Catholic Church, 353 Pine Street, Meadville., with Father Jeri Mesley, son of Thomas and Dorothy Mesley as celebrant. Burial will follow at Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery in Pettis, with full military honors being performed by VFW Post #2006 Color Guard. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Saint Agatha Roman Catholic Church, 353 Pine Street, Meadville, PA 16335. Please take a moment to share a memory or a condolence with the family in Thomas' Book of Memories online at www.roofnercollinswarrenfh.com or they may be mailed to Dan Mesley, 15526 Schutz Road, Meadville, PA 16335. Arrangements are in the care of Roofner-Collins-Warren Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., 544 Chestnut Street, Meadville.