Obituary of Thomas F. Steele

Thomas Francis Steele, 86, the eldest son of the late Francis P. and Alice C. Dower Steele of Jamestown, died at 12:00 a.m., Sunday March 3rd at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, NY. Drafted into the Army in June 1953 upon graduation from Jamestown High School, Tom reached the rank of Corporal and was sent to work in the Signal Corps before returning home to help care for his parents in 1955. He was a lifelong member of Ss. Peter and Paul Church in Jamestown. Tom may be remembered by many in Jamestown and the vicinity as a Service Man for National Fuel Gas. As a younger man, Tom (or Tommy to neighbors back then) coached many youth sports teams, bowled weekly in several leagues, ran for political office, and achieved the 4th Degree in the Knights of Columbus. At work, he became Union President and a lifelong advocate and resource for National Fuel Gas employees. Until quite recently, Tom was an active social member of the American Legion and Lakewood Rod and Gun. He was married to the late Cheryl R. Dickey and is also preceded in death by two brothers: James Steele, who passed in 1969, and Edward Steele, who passed in 2003. Tom is survived by a daughter, Dawn Steele Dawson (Gregory) and a grandson, Gregory Alexander Dawson, both of Rochester, NY; a sister, Kathleen Jones of Florida and a brother, William Steele of Jamestown; as well as many nieces and nephews to his great joy. Please join us in celebration of Thomas' wonderful life: A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 16th at Holy Apostles Parish, Ss. Peter & Paul Church. The Rev. Dennis W. Mende will be celebrant. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery. Friends will be received from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday in the Lind Funeral Home, where a Christian Wake Service will be led at 5:45 p.m. Memorials may be made to The Salvation Army, 83 S. Main St., Jamestown, NY 14701.