Thomas E. "Tom" Gregory, Sr.

YOUNGSTOWN - Thomas E. Gregory Sr., 85, of the city’s west side, passed away peacefully Sunday morning, Nov. 11, 2018, in the comfort of his home with his loved ones by his side.

Tom was born June 25, 1933, in Youngstown, and was a son of the late Thomas and Anne Stroney Gregory.

He served as a tank mechanic in the Army for four years during the Korean War, and earned his GED in the service. Tom loved cars, and he worked and co-owned Partner’s Auto Repair on Steel Street in Youngstown from 1980 until he retired in 1999. He also worked as a mechanic for Scotty’s Amoco on Glenwood Avenue and for R&R Mack Truck in Austintown. Tom further indulged his love of cars by being a local stock car driver, team owner, and mechanic.

Besides cars, his greatest passions were boating, family camping trips, fishing, and NASCAR, with his favorite driver being Dale Earnhardt. He was also an enduring fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Mr. Gregory was a longtime member of St. Brendan Parish in Youngstown, and was a member of the Catholic War Veteran’s John J. Buckley Post on Steel Street.

The Gregory home Tom presided over was always a welcoming place where family gatherings, picnics, and reunions were held throughout the year. Anyone could always come to Tom for good advice, counsel, and a helping hand. After retirement he continued to enjoy traveling with his wife, Ida, and repairing cars in his garage at home.

He is survived by his wife, Ida M. Gifford Gregory, whom he married Sept. 22, 2001; his two children, Lori Ann (Dan) O’Neill of Pittsburgh, Pa. and Thomas (Danielle) Gregory Jr. of Youngstown; his sister, Dorothy (Harry) Hatfield; a brother-in-law, Paul G. Frondorf; three stepchildren, Anna (Pete) Roscoe, George (Linda) Van Dyke, and Phillip (Valerie) Van Dyke; 16 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

His first wife of 42 years, Mary Frondorf Gregory, whom he married Feb. 8, 1957, passed away May 10, 1999. Three sisters, Norma McKnight, Pauline Ziegler, and Marian Burkey, and his stepson LeRoy, also preceded him in death.

Family and friends may call Tuesday, Nov. 13, from 5 to 8 p.m., at Kinnick Funeral Home, 477 N. Meridian Road, Youngstown.

Funeral services will begin at 9:15 a.m., Wednesday, Nov. 14, at the funeral home, and will continue at 10 a.m. with a Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at St. Columba Cathedral in downtown Youngstown.

Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Youngstown.

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