THOMAS R. STUDEBAKER Jr.

STUDEBAKER
THOMAS R., Jr.
Age 78, of Brighton Heights, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 16, 2016. Tom devoted his life to his family, his wife, Yvonne, and his three sons, T. Scott Studebaker (Angel) of Ross, Christopher (Gina) Studebaker of Allison Park, and Eric (Molly) Studebaker of Sewickley. Tom and Yvonne were married on April 24, 1965, at St. Cyril of Alexandria Church, and they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in April of 2015. Together, they built a loving and welcoming home to everyone. In addition to his loving wife, Tom's other pride and joy was his children, and he loved them dearly. From the time his children were born, Tom always made sure that he was an active part of their lives. Some of his most cherished memories were from visits to Niagara Falls, family vacations in Wildwood Crest, New Jersey, and weekends at the former Yogi Bear Campground in Slippery Rock. After long days of work, Tom would eat dinner and then take his boys to the baseball field to practice their skills. He supported the Brighton Heights Athletic Association by serving as a baseball coach and as an umpire. He was also active with board of directors of the North Catholic Ice Hockey Club in the 1980's. Once his children were grown and had their own families, Tom still remained active in their lives. From spending time with his grandchildren to golfing with his sons, he could always be counted on for support and encouragement. He was an incredibly talented craftsman, and he spent many hours making improvements to their homes. A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, Mr. Studebaker worked for Blue Cross of Western Pennsylvania for 35 years, having retired in 1996. During his time at Blue Cross, Tom was known for his honesty and integrity, and he made numerous lifelong friends. Upon his retirement, he spent his Tuesday and Thursday mornings golfing at local courses with fellow retirees and friends. Tom was also especially proud of his family heritage, and he had a strong interest in tracing his familial roots. He created many scrapbooks detailing his family tree, and was a member of the Studebaker Family National Association. Tom was preceded in death by his father, Thomas R. Studebaker, Sr.; his mother, Louise Studebaker; and a sister, Donna Studebaker. In addition to his wife and children, Mr. Studebaker is survived by his brother, Robert Studebaker of Chalfant; eight grandchildren, Adam (Laura), Nick, Elizabeth, Benjamin, Erik, Matt, Lucy, Eloise; a great-grandson, Jackson; a niece, Sara Studebaker of Philadelphia; and a nephew, Michael Studebaker of Braddock. Friends received Thursday 6-8 p.m. and Friday 2-8 p.m. at the LAWRENCE T. MILLER FUNERAL HOME, INC., 460 Lincoln Ave., Bellevue. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday at 9:30 a.m., St. Cyril of Alexandria Church, Brighton Road.