HORNELL-Lawrence P. “Bud” McCarthy, 96, of Charles Street, passed away Sunday (Dec. 23, 2018) at Elderwood at Hornell.
Born in Hornell on Oct. 15, 1922, he was a son of the late Lawrence E. and Bernice (Preston) McCarthy. Besides his parents, he was also predeceased by his daughter, Laurie Ann Reinprecht; his grandson, Zachary McCarthy; his three sisters, Patricia McCarthy, Madeline Wood and Jacquelyn Crook; his infant brother, Timothy McCarthy and his three other brothers, Richard McCarthy, William McCarthy and Michael McCarthy.
A lifelong resident of Hornell, Bud attended and graduated from Hornell High School. He enlisted originally in the Army National Guard and proudly served his country during World War II with the U. S. Army for five and a half years. After his honorable discharge from military service he received an associate’s degree from Alfred Ag-Tech in 1948. While attending Alfred Ag-Tech he met his future wife, the former Jo Ann Sherrick, they were married in Medina, N.Y. on Feb. 8, 1947 and would have celebrated 72 years of marriage on Feb. 8, 2019.
Bud was employed with Empire Fuel and retired as a foreman for National Fuel Gas in Hornell. After retiring he enjoyed playing golf five days a week and he Jo Ann loved to spend time traveling in their motor home/
During his military service Bud was involved with the Louisiana Maneuvers and was shipped out immediately after the bombing of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. To memorialize that day (Dec. 7), every year that he was able to, he would fly one of the planes that he either owned, co-owned or leased. He obtained his private pilot license in 1939; flying was his favorite thing to do. Bud was a past president of the Hornell Flying Club and was also instrumental in forming the Civil Air Patrol Wing in Hornell and held the rank of Major. He also volunteered his time at the Glen Curtis Museum (OX5) in Hammondsport.
Throughout the years Bud has been very civic and community minded which is evident in his many affiliations including being President of the Alumni Association, a member of the Education Foundation for Development and the College Council all at Alfred State College, a former member of the Zoning Board for the City of Hornell, a member and past treasurer for the Hornell Chapter of the American Red Cross, a former member of the Executive Council of the Steuben Area Boy Scouts of America and was awarded the Silver Beaver Award, which is the highest award a civilian may receive. Bud was also a life member of the Arthur H. Cunningham American Legion Post No. 440 and a life member and Past commander of the Cpl. J.J. Mooney VFW Post No 2250 in Hornell.
A communicant of the former St. Ignatius Loyola Church, Bud was presently a member of Our Lady of the Valley Parish and was communicant of St. Ann’s Church in Hornell and was also a member of the Hornell Council No. 243, Knights of Columbus.
His loving family includes his wife, Jo Ann; his six sons, Timothy I. McCarthy of Reston, Va., Thomas O. (Sharon) McCarthy of Geneseo, Lawrence Daniel (Carol) McCarthy of Woodland Park, Colo., Donald R. (Cheryl) McCarthy of Colorado Springs, Colo., Robert J. (Lewis Lane) of Norfolk, Va. and Richard A. (Sharon) of Bergen; his 16 grandchildren, Carrie, Gary, Jeff, Jamie, Sara, Kyle, Amy, Emily, Katherine, Holly, Andrew, Daniel, Nathan, Hannah, Haley and Heidi; his 15 great- grandchildren; also his three sisters-in-law, Jeanette McCarthy, Donna McCarthy and Doris McCarthy; as well as his many nieces, nephews and cousins.
The Bishop & Johnson Funeral Home, Inc. in Hornell is honored to serve the family of Lawrence P. “Bud” McCarthy.
Calling hours are 4-7 p.m. Friday (Dec. 28, 2018) at the Bishop & Johnson Funeral Home, Inc., 285 Main St., Hornell. Relatives and friends are invited to join his family at St. Ann’s Church in Hornell where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday (Dec. 29, 2018). Committal prayers and interment, with military honors, will follow at St. Mary’s Cemetery, Town of Fremont.
The United States flag and the Army flag will proudly fly at the Bishop & Johnson Funeral Home, Inc. in recognition of Bud’s military service.
In lieu of flowers, those wishing may contribute in his memory to either the Alfred State Education Foundation, 10 Upper College Drive, Alfred, N.Y. 14802, to the Hornell Area Humane Society, 7649 Industrial Park Road, Hornell, or to St. Ann’s Church of Our Lady of the Valley Parish, 27 Erie Ave., Hornell, N.Y. 14843. Envelopes for memorial contributions will be available at the funeral home.
Online condolences or remembrances of Bud are welcomed on the Facebook page of Bishop & Johnson Funeral Home, Inc. or at www.bishopandjohnsonfuneralhome.com.
