Thomas Lydon
Thomas James Lydon, 84, of Cabot, passed away Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in the comfort of his home and with his loving family at his side.
Born June 13, 1942, in Butler, he was a son of the late John E. Lydon and Evelyn M. Stewart Lydon.
Tom was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force where he served in the air police. This gave him opportunities to travel throughout the United States; Madrid, Spain; and Okinawa, Japan.
He was employed in the silicon department then later as a welder at AK Steel (formerly Armco) in Butler. He retired in 2004, with 38 years of service. He maintained his connections with his steel mill buddies as he organized an annual Ironworkers Picnic for retirees from 2003 through 2019, so they could enjoy “Steak-Beer-Bullcrap.” He continued to meet up with his co-workers once a month for breakfast at Eat’n Park until this year.
He was a member of Sts. Francis and Clare Parish, St. Mary of the Assumption Roman Catholic Church, where he sang in the choir. He was a faithful, dedicated volunteer for St. Mary’s Picnic and St. Mary’s Fish Fry, where he operated the Hobart dishwasher for decades.
He belonged to the RC Men’s Club, the Saxonburg Fireman’s Club, American Legion Post 117 and Knights of Columbus Butler Council 866. He was an avid reader and completer of the daily crossword puzzle. He delighted in playing cards, Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit and Bananagrams with friends and family. He enjoyed entering sweepstakes and found himself to be very lucky, but mostly in love, and he always said, “family is the most important thing.”
Tom is survived by his wife of 58 years, Janet S. Orloski Lydon, whom he married Feb. 24, 1968; five children, Charmaine Lydon Betjemann and her husband, Erik, Elaine Lydon, Maria Garde and her husband, Gabriel, Sarah Schlenz and her husband, Timothy, and Andrew Lydon and his wife, Destiney; nine grandchildren, Theresia, Gabriella, Elise, Noel, Jacob, William, Brianna, Finnegan and Willow; one sister, Mary Zotter, and her husband, Dennis; and a number of nieces and nephews.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by twin babies, Anthony Lydon and Janet Lydon; two sisters, Patricia Shields and her husband, Donald, and Martha Lydon; and one brother, John M. Lydon.
LYDON — Friends of Thomas James Lydon, who died Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, will be received from 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 8, at MARTIN FUNERAL HOME DOWNTOWN, 201 E. Cunningham St., Butler.
A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9, at Sts. Francis and Clare Parish, St. Mary of the Assumption Roman Catholic Church, 821 Herman Road, Butler, with the Rev. James Kurtz, OFM Cap., officiating. Everyone is asked to please meet at the church.
A luncheon will be served at the Herman Firehall immediately after Mass.
Military honors will be accorded at the church by American Legion Post 778, VFW Post 249 and VFW Post 499.
Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery.
For more information, please visit www.martinfh.net.
Please sign the guest book at www.butlereagle.com.
