Thomas Edward O'Meara, Sr., 78, of Port Charlotte, FL, passed away on Sunday, July 5, 2009 at his home with his family at his bedside.

Mr. O'Meara was born in St. Albans, but was raised in the Milton and Huntington area. He graduated from Milton High School, where he played football. He later attended Texas Tech University. He had worked in Huntington at the former Barrack's Automotive. With his expertise in organizational skills and pleasant personality, he was soon promoted to the Barrack's Automotive facility in downtown Charleston as general manager. He left the company after 30 years of service.

Mr. O'Meara was a decorated Korean War veteran while serving in the US Air Force in Seoul, Korea. With his love for the mountains, as well as the sea, he retired to North Port, FL, from his Cross Lanes residence. Soon, the call of the mountains drew him to relocate to the Knoxville, TN area for eight years before returning to the gulf coast of Florida. Mr. O'Meara was known for his wry wit and dry sense of humor. Also, he was a stickler for detail and preferred not to drive a dirty or unwaxed vehicle. As was custom, the boats he owned were as clean as his vehicles, as he navigated the Kanawha and Ohio rivers as well as the Great Lakes.

During his retirement he possessed excellent skills in remodeling homes from the ground up and landscape architect. In addition he pursued his passion for woodworking and built many flawless handmade items including grandfather clocks, baby cribs, hutches, etc. He had a thirst for current events, which included reading at least two or more newspapers a day.

Mr. O'Meara is survived by his wife of 33 years, Norma Bird Fay O'Meara; sons, Thomas E. O'Meara, Jr. of Port Charlotte, FL, Michael O'Meara, and his wife, Stephanie of Mt. Holly, NC, Patrick O'Meara of Dunbar; stepson, Timothy Fay of Birmingham, AL; stepdaughters, Donna Fay Thompson and Denise Fay Ballinger, and her husband, Gary both of Tucson, AZ; sister, Peggy Lynd, and her husband Bill of South Point, OH; 7 grandchildren. All of his children revered him and proudly referred to him as the greatest father ever.

Mr. O'Meara and his family attended the First Christian Church, Port Charlotte, FL.

Funeral services will be held at 11:30 a.m., Saturday, July 11, at Keller Funeral Home, Dunbar, with the Rev. Dr. Okey Harless officiating. Burial will follow in Cunningham Memorial Park, St. Albans.

Friends may call from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, July 10, at Keller Funeral Home, Dunbar.