Thomas F. Meckes Sr., of Long Pond, died Tuesday, March 16, at his home in Long Pond.
He was the husband of Dorothy (Luton) Meckes. They had celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary.
Born in Long Pond, he was the son of the late Harrison and Ada Mae (Keiper) Meckes.
He was a self-employed farmer in Long Pond for most of his life. In addition to his farming, he had worked at Bethlehem Steel in Bethlehem and also for the Bethlehem Water Authority-National Weather Service in Bethlehem. He had worked for White Haven Powder Mills in White Haven. He had also worked for Harold Burger Lumbering in Kresgeville and worked for various contractors on road construction.
He was of the Methodist Faith and had attended Blakeslee United Methodist Church in Blakeslee.
He was an avid hunter, fisherman, and card player.
In addition to his wife, Dorothy, he is survived by three sons, Thomas F. Meckes Jr. and his wife Patricia of Effort, Richard David Meckes Sr. and his wife Shirley of Tannersville, and Eugene Meckes and his wife Cathy of Bonita Springs, Fla.; four daughters, Marlene wife of Rudolph Kovalefski of Long Pond, Rose Marie wife of Edward Simon of Greentown, Doris wife of Frank Frailey of Swiftwater, and Ruth Carol Meckes of Long Pond. He is also survived by two sisters, Claire Binkley of Scotrun and Gymane Bush of East Stroudsburg; two brothers, Claude Meckes of Long Pond and Dewey Meckes of Sciota; 14 grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; four great great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by a son, Harrison Meckes. He was also preceded in death by six sisters, Cora, Adalaide, Virginia, Jacqueline, Gloria and Golden and five brothers, Louis, Allen, Robert, Miles and Randolph.
Funeral services will begin 11 a.m. Saturday, March 20, at the Donald N. Gower Funeral Home, Route 209, Gilbert with the Pastor Burgess L. Gordon Jr. officiating. Interment will be in the Blakeslee Methodist Cemetery in Blakeslee.
A viewing will be held Friday, March 19, from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Donald N. Gower Funeral Home, Inc., Route 209, Gilbert.