Eugene T. Dougherty Jr.

Eugene Thomas Dougherty, Jr., passed away peacefully on January 10, 2025, three days before his 94th birthday.

He is survived by son Michael (Sharon), daughters Terri Williams (Russ), Lisa Briggeman (John), and Patty Bolich (Chris), sister Betty Fuchs, three grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. He is pre-deceased by his loving wife Dolores H. Doughtery (Nee: Wanderer).

Eugene was born in 1931 in the Kensington section of Philadelphia during the Great Depression. As a child, he witnessed firsthand the struggles of the time: lean Christmases, hunger, and multiple moves, often in the middle of the night as his parents sought to escape the rent collector. But he was determined to make a better life for himself and his family and left school at age 15 to go to work. He excelled at furniture upholstering and other skilled labor. After his marriage, he was hired by SKF Industries, working as a machinist and grinding precision bearings for aircraft, retiring in 1990 after 30 years of service to the company.

Gene was drafted into the Korean War in 1952 and served in the 116th Engineer Combat Battalion, Company A, until 1954. His company was responsible for building roads from the Chorwon Valley, South Korea, to the North Korean front. Even into his 90s he still remembered names of some of the men he served alongside: Lucius Smith, Reginald Winters, John Forker, Walter Seymour, Sammy Letcher, Russell Bow, John Roseberry, Jose Valles, John Senalik, and Duke Cousins. While in the army, he finished his high school education and received his GED.

On May 20, 1950, he married the love of his life, Dolores Helen Wanderer. They first settled in Kensington and eventually moved to Northeast Philadelphia in the early 1970s, where they bought a house that became their beloved home for many happy years. He worked hard to support his family, especially to give his children things he rarely had, like candy and Christmas presents. When Dolores passed away in 2016, he moved in with his daughter and son-in-law in Coatesville. They feel blessed to have been able to share the remaining years of his life with him.

Dad was known for his witty and entertaining sense of humor and was always saying funny things and playing innocent jokes on friends and family. There was always a lot of laughing around the table at family dinners.

In retirement, he tried is hand at oil painting, using Bob Ross study videos. He was very talented and painted many beautiful landscapes that are now hanging in many family members' homes. He always kept his mind engaged and was an avid reader, enjoying the Philadelphia Inquirer every morning over coffee and reading books on history, current events, political humor, and suspense. He listened to music every day, streamed movies often, regularly watched PBS programs, and did crossword puzzles every day. He always enjoyed a good beer, and he was an avid fan of the Phillies, Eagles, and Flyers.

He will be greatly missed.

Relatives and friends are invited to his Interment with Military Honors, Thursday, January 30, 2025 at 1:00PM in Washington Crossing National Cemetery, Newtown, PA.

Donations in his memory may be made to The Disabled Veterans National Foundation or The Veterans of Foreign Wars at the websites listed below.