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Obituaries » James (Tom) Fives

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U.S. Veteran
Obituary Viewed 5157 times
July 4, 1930 - October 17, 2020

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James “Tom” Fives, 90, passed away on Saturday, October 17, 2020 at home surrounded by his family.  His wife is the former Bonnie Brundage.  The couple celebrated their 48th wedding anniversary on Sept 30th.

Born on July 4, 1930 in the Egypt area of Mt Pleasant Township, he was a lifelong resident of the area.  He was the son of the late Michael and Rose (Gill) Fives.  Tom graduated from Pleasant Mount High School and the I.C.S. School of Engineering.  He operated the family farm for many years and was a director of the Milk Producers Association.  After farming he was employed at the Pleasant Mount Fish Commissions as a Fish Culturist where he worked for over 30 years.

Active in sports, he both played and managed in the Pleasant Mount Mountain Team baseball team and played basketball on the Pleasant Mount and Tri County Leagues.  He was drafted to play for the Brooklyn Dodgers farm league baseball team.  He also bowled in a number of leagues in Honesdale.  He served as President of the now defunct Egypt Hunting Club.  Tom’s athleticism was honored by him being inducted into the Wayne County Sports Hall of Fame in 2002 and subsequently became a member of the nominating committee.

He was a member of the St Cecelia’s Church, Hilltop, PA where he served as usher and lector.  He had been Secretary of the Holy Name Society and served as President of the St Cecelia’s Cemetery Association for over 35 years.

A Korean War Veteran, he served at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Maryland as an equipment and weapons tester.  He was a member of the Pleasant Mount American Legion #964 where he was the Historian and Honorary Commander.  He was honored to be presented the Quilts of Valor for his military service.  He was instrumental in compiling a roster of the veterans from the Pleasant Mount Area from the Revolutionary War to present day – a total of 957 veterans.  He was honored to be named Grand Marshall of the annual Pleasant Mount Fourth of July Parade in 2005.  He often joked that the parade and fireworks celebrations were put on for his birthday.

He was a charter member of the Pleasant Mount Fire Company, served on the Pleasant Mount Planning Committee for over 10 years, a member of the Wayne County and Pleasant Mount Historical Society; serving as a Historian.  He was very interested in genealogy and area history.  He completed full history books on both his family and area history.  It was said that if you needed information about people and places in the township, Tom was the one to go to.

He loved the outdoors – especially working on his lawn, gardens, and building stone walls on the property.  He enjoyed sitting on the porch and watching the birds in the bird feeder.  He loved going to town for ice cream with his love, Bonnie and just taking rides throughout the area back roads.  He adored his two granddaughters and would do anything for them.

In addition to his wife he is survived by two daughters Lisa Yarbrough and husband Shane, Scott Twp. and Maribeth Gutierrez and husband George and granddaughters Marleigh Rose and Abigail Shea, Denville, NJ, a sister Peggy Carden and her husband Jerry (who was like a brother to him), Egypt, PA, and sisters-in-law Ann Fives, South Bound Brook ,NJ and Fay Fives, Egypt, PA and many loving nieces, nephews, and cousins.  He was preceded in death by his brothers Robert, Joseph and Bill, sister Jean and sister-in-law Dianne Crowe Fives.

Toms family would like to thank the nurses and staff of Hospice of the Sacred Heart for their care in his final days.

 

Friends may visit Hessling Funeral Home, Inc., 428 Main St., Honesdale on Thursday, 4 to 7.  Face masks are required, and social distancing protocols will be followed.  A private Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for family on Friday at St. James Church in Pleasant Mount.  Interment with military honors will follow in St. Cecelia’s Cemetery.

Memorial contributions can be made to Pleasant Mount American Legion, Post 964

For well over a century, Hessling Funeral Home has offered traditional and non traditional services. We provide funeral services to all cultures and religious faiths. Making this difficult time a little easier for our families is our primary concern. In this spirit, we created our website, in which you will find information about our services and facilities, useful items such as directions, obituaries, and monuments. Please browse through our website and feel free to contact us with any questions that you may have.