Thomas J. Casey, Jr., 91, died Thursday, May 8, 2014. Born in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania on July 21, 1922, he was the oldest of four brothers. He grew up during the depression where his father supported the family by owning a small general store and his mother was in a traditional stay-at-home mom. He attended public schools and after graduation, he attended the Pittsburgh School of Aeronautics, which trained him to be an aircraft mechanic, a career that spanned for 40 years. His first job was at a small airport in Erie, Pennsylvania where he worked on small private planes which provided much valuable experience. Prior to World War II, he served at Middleton Air Depot near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania where he worked as an aircraft mechanic and as an inspector. He was drafted into World War II in December 1943 and was sent to Langley Air Force Base where he continued working as a mechanic and inspector which lasted for 40 years, retiring in December 1981. He worked on a variety of aircrafts through his 40 years of service which culminated with the F-15, which gave him much job satisfaction. He married his high-school sweetheart, Audrey Richards in 1941 and they remained married until her death in 2002. While their marriage encountered many challenges, they remained dedicated to each other for 61 years. They had five children, Ellen, Judy, Tom, Jim, and Michael, 11 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren. They will all miss him dearly, especially his easy-going attitude and gentle manner. Tom was a charter member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church and he attended mass on a regular basis until illness kept him from doing so. Dad's desire was not to go on any artificial life-support and to stay in his home until his death - he got his wish. The family will receive friends at R Hayden Smith Funeral Home on Sunday, May 11th from 7 - 8 pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday at 11 o'clock at St. Joseph's church in Buckroe; burial will follow in Parklawn Memorial Park and all attendees are invited to return to the home of his son Michael and his partner Roger at 128 Meredith St. in Hampton to honor his life and not mourn his death. His family would like to thank the many doctors and nurses that took great care of him in his later years. Special thanks goes to his primary physician Dr. Anthony Fisher, and caretakers, Caroline Powell and Elizabeth Jefferson for their great care and companionship for the last few years. Dad would not have been able to stay at his home without their support.