Thomas W. Roe
Thomas W. Roe, 86, of Meridian passed away peacefully Sunday.
He was born Oct. 10, 1928, in Butler, a son to the late Walter L. “Jack” and Leola Ruth Roe.
He was a devoted husband to his wife of 61 years, Shirley J. Roe, and a loving father to his three daughters, Linda (Russell) Miller of Chaptico, Md., Gail Faurie of Butler and Sharon (John) Millea of Harmony.
Tom is survived by three sisters, Marjorie (Robert, deceased) Perrin, Carol (Bruce) Ball and Donna (Bruce, deceased) Williamson; five grandchildren, Steven (Elena) Faurie, Christina Faurie, David Faurie, Jered (Erika) Miller and Elliot (Jocelyn) Miller; one great-grandchild, Lucas Miller; seven nephews; and one niece.
A native of Meridian, Tom was an amateur pilot as a teen. He graduated from the University of Illinois with a bachelor's degree in management, marketing and economics.
In 1950, he started serving for 10 years as a fighter pilot in the U.S. Air Force and Pennsylvania Air National Guard.
Upon returning to civilian life, Tom enjoyed a 31-year career as a commercial pilot for United Airlines. Tom also was founder and president of Roco Development. The real estate firm developed the Rollingwood and Deer Run subdivisions in Meridian and restored The Meridian Station Gift Shop, located on the site of a historic rail depot on the Harmony Short Line.
A pillar of his community, Tom was a lifelong member of the St. John's Reformed Church in Meridian. He was a member of the Victory Lodge 694 F&AM and the Syria Temple of Pittsburgh. He spent 15 years as a Butler County Airport Authority board member, served on the Meridian Water and Sewer Authority and completed a five-year term on the Butler Township Planning Commission.
Along with pursuing his passion for flying, Tom enjoyed golf and spending time with family and friends at his cottage at Indian Lake in Somerset County.
ROE — Friends of Thomas W. Roe, who died Sunday, July 19, 2015, will be received from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Thompson-Miller Funeral Home, 124 E. North St., Butler.Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the St. John's Reformed Church, 493 Evans City Road, Butler, with the Rev. Jarrod Crawford officiating. Burial will take place in Butler County Memorial Park.Officers and members of the American Legion Post 117 of Butler, the American Legion Post 778 of Lyndora and the VFW Post 249 of Butler will conduct military honors at the cemetery.Memorials are suggested to St. John's Reformed Church, 493 Evans City Road, Butler, PA 16001.Online condolences can be given at www.thompson-miller.com.
