Thomas D. Withee transitioned peacefully into the loving hands of God on December 06, 2020 at the age of 93.
Thomas was born in Canton; a lifelong resident; high school football star and a proud WW2 Army Veteran. He was the only son of Gertrude and Albert Withee and grew up poor during the Great Depression. This shaped his strong will, sharp wit, and unwavering work ethic. As a young teen he found jobs at the local hardware store, set up pins at the town bowling alley, worked as an usher at the downtown movie theatre or sold scrap metal. He would hang with his friends, ride his bicycle or fish with his beloved dog Tippy by his side until June 21, 1945 when at the age of 18, he was drafted into the war, after just finishing his junior year in high school. Tom was assigned to the 88th Army division and stationed in the Italian Alps working as border patrol in Italy and guarding German prisoners.
Upon returning from the war in February 1947, Thomas found work at Plymouth Rubber and the love of his life, Ann, before taking a union job at Northrop, Inc. in Norwood, where he worked for 32 years until his retirement in 1986.
While Tom and Ann were engaged, they purchased a small piece of land, on a dirt road in Canton and built their dream home together before getting married in December of 1949. Tom owned and loved horses, enjoyed watching old western movies, and you could often find him on his garden tractor mowing the lawn. He also volunteered as an usher at St. John’s Church and built the outside Christmas manger, which is still being used today. Every December for many years he would erect the manger with the help of one or both of his sons. He was a skilled craftsman, also building the priests’ podium, an alter table and a manger for inside the church.
Tom vacationed with his wife at their cottage on Moosehead Lake in Maine for 42 years where he would explore the shores for driftwood, fish for salmon and would work on whatever project he had going at the time. He enjoyed eating his wife’s Maine blueberry pies and feeding the ducks that would come right up to the front door of the cottage every summer. He would befriend the deer that would visit the backyard apple tree and marvel at the many moose he encountered. After retirement, Tom continued to spend summers in Maine but would also travel to Venice, Florida in late December to escape the cold New England winter, enjoy the beach and watch the boats in the harbor, which he did for some 20-years. Tom made many Florida friends, was a respected and talented wood carver producing an impressive collection of life like red tail hawks, owls, loons, ducks, as well as Santa caricatures.
Thomas is predeceased by his beloved and devoted wife Ann, of 69 years, who passed away in March of 2019 and will be deeply missed by his three children and their spouses: Thomas and Deborah Withee, Jr., Brian and Jean Withee, Diann and George Loring, as well as five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Visiting hours at the Dockray & Thomas Funeral Home 455 Washington St. Canton Wednesday 4-7 pm. Due to the current Covid 19 restrictions only 25 people will be allowed within the funeral home at a time, masks are required and guests should bring their own pens to sign the register book. Funeral Mass at St. John the Evangelist Church, Canton Thursday morning at 10. Burial Knollwood Memorial Park, Canton. Donations may be made in his memory to the Canton Veteran’s Service Dept. 801 Washington St. Canton, MA 02021.