Thomas "Tom" A. Pauvlik

Thomas A. “Tom” Pauvlik passed away Monday, February 27, 2023, at his Westlake, OH home, surrounded by his family.

Born June 22, 1932, in Marguerite, he was the son of the late Joseph and Frances (Benko) Pauvlik.

He was a long time member of St. Agatha Church.

He grew up in Norvelt, named in honor of First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, a New Deal homestead project that provided housing, work, and a community environment to workers and their families during the Great Depression. Tom graduated from St. Vincent Preparatory School in Latrobe. He enlisted in the Navy during the Korean Conflict and proudly served as an Aviation Machinist Mate. Tom was stationed at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, working as an Air Crewman on the P5M Marlin and P2V Neptune. Following his discharge, he used his G.I. Bill benefit to earn a Bachelor of Mechanics Degree in Engineering from Chicago Technical College. While in Chicago, he met his late wife, Eileen (McKenna) at the Baby Doll Polka Club and they were married on October 28, 1961.

Tom and Eileen raised their family in Meadville, where he worked as an Engineer at Talon Company, as an evening adult education math instructor at Crawford County Vo Tech in the Tool and Die Apprenticeship Program, and later at Saegertown Manufacturing Corporation.

Tom was fun-loving,optimistic, supportive, and always kind to everyone he encountered. He will be fondly remembered for his loving care of his wife, and the love and wise counsel he provided to his children and grandchildren. In recent years, he especially enjoyed participating in the Silver Sneakers Program at the Vernon Branch of the Meadville YMCA, both the exercise classes and the coffee and conversation, afterward.

In addition to his wife, Tom was preceded in death by a sister Amelia (Robert, Sr.) Lape and a niece, LeeAnn Lape.

Tom is survived by a daughter, Catherine Port and her husband William of Mechanicsburg; a son, Thomas Pauvlik and his wife Kathleen of North Olmsted, OH; three grandchildren, Jack Port, Katlyn Pauvlik and Matthew Pauvlik; a sister, Jeanne (Michael) Helmcke of Chicago, IL; nephews, Robert (Renee) Lape Jr., of West Union, IA, and Joseph (Jennifer) Lape, of Mt. Pleasant and niece, Kirsten (Joseph) Dudeck of Glenview, IL.

Family and friends are invited to call from 4-6 PM on Friday, March 24, 2023, at STEPHEN P. MIZNER FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION SERVICES, INC., 404 CHESTNUT ST., MEADVILLE, where a Scripture Service will be held at 5:30 PM.

A Memorial Mass of Resurrection will be celebrated Saturday, March 25, 2023, at 12 PM at The Epiphany of the Lord Parish, St. Agatha Church, 353 Pine St., Meadville, with Fr. Joe Petrone, Parochial Vicar, officiating. Full Military Honors by VFW Post 2006 will follow.

Tom will be laid to rest with his wife, in the National Cemetery of The Alleghenies, Bridgeville.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his memory to The Epiphany of the Lord Parish, 353 Pine St., Meadville, PA 16335.

Share a memory or condolence at www.miznerfuneralhome.com