HORNELL - Thomas F. Harwood, 81, of 580 Webb Road, died Friday (Feb. 23, 2001) at St. James Mercy Hospital in Hornell. Born in Hornell February 26, 1919, a son of Guy G. and Daisy (Bennett) Harwood, he was a graduate of Hornell High School, Class of 1938. He served as a carpenter and worked on the building of the Big Creek bridges from 1936-38. He later served in the United States Navy during WWII, from 1944-46. He was employed in the freight house for the former Erie and Erie Lackawanna Railroad, and retired as a conductor from Conrail in 1979 after 41 years of service. During this time, he also operated a farm on the Pennsylvania Hill Road.
Tom was a member and past master of Hornellsville Lodge # 44 F & AM, Steuben Chapter #101, Royal Arch Masons, Hornellsville Council #35 and DeMolay Commandry #2. He was also a member of the Corning Consistory, member and past patron of Ivanhoe Chapter #160, Order of Eastern Star and past Watchman of Shepards at Emmaus Shrine #17, White Shrine of Jerusalem. He served as District Grand Lecturer of the Steuben District, Order of Eastern Star in 1974. Tom was instrumental in starting the Friday Night Fish Fry at the Hornell Masonic Temple, and worked on the fish fry staff for several years.
He was predeceased by three brothers, Rockwell, Arlie and Arthur Harwood, as well as two grandchildren, Eric J. Harwood and Debra M.
Mehlenbacher.
On September 23, 1939, he married the former Elizabeth "Betty" Comfort, who survives. Surviving in addition to his wife Elizabeth, to whom he had been married 61 years, are four daughters, Diane (George) Moore of Hornell, Sandra Mehlenbacher of Canisteo, Linda Drum of Hornell and Penny Davidson of Almond; three sons, Thomas F. Harwood, Jr. of Escondido, Ca., Michael G. (Gloria) Harwood of Plano, Tx., and Randall Harwood of Poughkeepsie; sister-in-law Maradean Harwood of Hornell; 18 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; as well as several nieces and nephews.
The family will be present 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. today to receive friends at the Bender-Brown & Powers Funeral Home, 354 Canisteo St., Hornell, where Masonic Memorial Services will be held tonight at 8 p.m. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday morning at 11 a.m., with the Rev. Jane Shumway officiating. Burial will follow in Hillside
Cemetery, Canisteo.