Thomas J. MacBride

Mr. Thomas James MacBride, 88, of 11 Victoria Drive, Hilton Head, SC, and 1232 Arbor Ridge, Chambersburg, PA, and formerly of 100 Wynnecrest Drive, Waynesboro, PA, died at home in Chambersburg Sunday morning, September 26, 2010. Tom was born at home, September 21, 1922, in Crosby Beach, MN, to the late John G. and Alice (Cooper) MacBride. His early life experiences made for many stories which he loved to share. Tom had farm chores at home, guarded swimmers at Crosby Beach, delivered newspapers, drove dynamite to the iron mines, and shined shoes at the barbershop. He attended North Dakota State and the University of Indiana. He graduated from the Dickinson School of Law, Carlisle, PA, in February 1949. He served in counterintelligence at Fort Ritchie, MD, and in Japan, and was honorably discharged from the US Army in 1946 after four years of service. On a supply trip to Letterkenny Army Depot, he met Yvonne A. Holthaus of Blue Ridge Summit. She later became his wife of over 65 years. They were married April 29, 1945, in Waynesboro. Tom was admitted to practice law in the Court of Common Pleas, Franklin County Branch, January 1, 1950, and was later admitted to practice before all Pennsylvania Courts including the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania; before the Federal District Court and the U.S. Supreme Court; and in the states of Maryland, Illinois, and Virginia. He practiced law with the firm Ullman and MacBride, later Ullman, MacBride and Painter for 18 years. He then served as Vice President and Secretary of Grove Manufacturing Company, Shady Grove, PA, and was the last surviving member of their original Board of Directors. Mr. MacBride served as CEO and Chairman of the Board, Jerr-Dan Corp., State Line, PA; President and Chairman of the Board, First Federal Savings & Loan, Hagerstown, MD; and Chairman of the Board, PHICO Insurance Group, Harrisburg, PA. He was active in his community serving as President of Waynesboro Rotary Club; President of the Board, Waynesboro Country Club; Chairman of the Board, Waynesboro Hospital; Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Waynesboro YMCA; Chairman, Penn State University Advisory Board, Mont Alto Campus; Trustee, Hagerstown Business College and Board Director; and Waynesboro Day Care Board of Directors. He served on the PA Republican State Committee and was an original member of the board of Directors, Hagerstown Symphony. Tom ran successful fundraisers for the Waynesboro Hospital, Waynesboro YMCA, Easter Seals, Waynesboro Community Pool, and the Waynesboro Community Chest. Tom taught business law at Mont Alto Campus, Penn State University. While living on Hilton Head, he was an active mentor in the Beaufort County South Carolina Public School System for eight years. Tom loved sharing his time between the South Carolina Low Country and Pennsylvania's Cumberland Valley, and enjoyed travelling, golf, reading, and hunting. In addition to his wife, he is survived by three daughters, Patricia Krauser and her husband David of Bluffton, SC, Lynn MacBride of Waynesboro, and Teri MacBride and her husband Stephen Guattery of Lewisburg, PA; five grandchildren, Todd Krauser and his wife Sandy of Alpharetta, GA, Scott Krauser and his wife Jennifer of Landisville, PA, Matthew Cooper and his wife Beth of Knoxville, TN, Daniel Cooper and his fiancŽe Clare Frederick of Chicago, IL, and Yvonne Cooper and her husband Casey Grigg of Pasadena, CA; one step-granddaughter, Mira Guattery of Lewisburg, PA; eight great-grandchildren; one brother John of California; and numerous nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his sister, Dorothy, and three brothers, Donald, Carl, and William and one great-grandson, Gabriel Krauser. A memorial service will be held at 11A.M., Friday, October 1, 2010, in Grove-Bowersox Funeral Home, 50 S. Broad St., Waynesboro, with his good friend Rev. Clayton H. Moyer officiating. Interment will be at a later date in Green Hill Cemetery, Waynesboro. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the services in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Waynesboro Day Care Center, 1801 East Main St., Waynesboro, PA, 17268, Renfrew Institute, 1010 East Main Street, Waynesboro, PA, 17268, Waynesboro YMCA, 810 East Main Street, Waynesboro, PA, 17268, or Deep Well Project of Hilton Head Island, P.O. Box 5543, Hilton Head Island, SC, 29926.