Thomas McCarthy, 89, Watertown Resident, WWII Vet, Founded Trucking Company

Thomas F. McCarthy of Watertown died on Jan. 21 at the age of 89.

He was born in Somerville to the late Daniel J. and Rose A. (Galvin) McCarthy. He served with the U.S. Navy in the South Pacific during World War II. Always a pacifist, he worked in communications on the USS DuPage, a Bayfield-class attack transport ship that moved troops. During the January 1945 invasion of the Philippines in San Fabien, the ship was hit by a kamikaze plane, sustaining severe damage, 35 deaths, and 136 wounded. He received the World War II Victory Medal, the American Theatre Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Medal 5 Stars Philippine Liberation Medal 2 stars. He was honorably discharged on March 4, 1946, according to an obituary on the Joyce Funeral Home website.

He founded Midtown Trucking Company in the 1960's and ran a successful business for more than 30 years serving the garment industry in the Greater Boston area. He was also a drug and alcohol counselor in the Gaven House in Boston for several years.

He was husband of 67 years to Phyllis Anne (Collins) McCarthy; father of Sheila M. Hopkins of Truro, Kevin J. McCarthy and his wife Mary Jean Brown of Tucker, Ga., Susan M. Ingraham of Alexandria, Va., Marilyn J. Salvas and her husband James of Watertown, Shevaun E. Baker and her husband Tim of Fitchburg; grandfather of Joey, Donna, Jessie, Mark, Brian, Justine, Roseanne, Tommy, Jenny, Ashley, Teddy, Andrew, Jackie, Amanda and Jennifer; great grandfather of 19 and he also has many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his children, Thomas Francis 'Tommy' McCarthy and Pamela Gorman and his siblings John 'Jack' McCarthy, Joseph McCarthy, Margaret McCarthy and Helen Callahan.

Calling hours will be in The Joyce Funeral Home, 245 Main St. (Rte. 20) in Waltham on Sunday, Jan. 26 from 2-5 p.m. and again at 9 a.m. on Monday morning before leaving in procession to Saint Luke's Church, 132 Lexington St. in Belmont, where his Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Saint Patrick Cemetery in Watertown.

Memorials donations may be made to New England Center for Homeless Veterans, 17 Court Street, Boston, MA 02108.