John T. Colabrese 1915-2003 Obituary
John Thomas Colabrese, 87, a former resident of Clarksburg and Thomas, civic leader and retired employee of Consolidated Gas Co. and Colabrese Brothers Hardware Store, died at his home in Charles Town, Monday, Jan. 13, 2003.
Mr. Colabrese was born Oct. 12, 1915, in Douglas, the oldest child of the late Frank and Antonietta Colabrese.
He graduated from Thomas High School in 1933 and moved to Clarksburg in September 1935, where he enrolled in the West Virginia Business College and took the complete business executive course.
He also began teaching first aid to the First Brethren Church Boy Scouts.
Mr. Colabrese served on several committees and as a trustee and lifetime member of the Elks Club and the Knights of Columbus.
He was drafted into the Army in November 1942, and was stationed at Fifth Service Command Headquarters in Columbus, Ohio.
He also served at Fort Benjamin Harrison and Camp Allenbury, Ind., where he was discharged in 1946. In 1947, he joined the American Legion Post 31, where he was editor of Post 13 News, vice commander for several years, and served on the membership committee.
Upon his return to Clarksburg, Mr. Colabrese attended business courses at WVU.
Under the G.I Bill, he attended Salem College night school and was one of the first to earn a B.S. in business administration and social studies in 1954.
Mr. Colabrese retired from Consolidated Natural Gas Co. after more than 38 enjoyable years at Division 1 Headquarters.
He returned to Thomas in 1979 and worked in the family hardware and appliance store until it closed in 1998.
He served as faithful comptroller of the Council No. 2010 Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree in Thomas.
Mr. Colabrese is survived by his sisters, Lucy Colabrese and Barbara Colabrese, at home, Gloria and Marcel Vandendriessche of Wheaton, Md., Eleanor and William Golladay of Newark, Del., Yonnie and Kenneth Sims of Charles Town; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by one sister, Elviera Maphis, Clarksburg; brother, Alphonso Colabrese, Fort Pierce, Fla.; and brother, G.J. “Bill” Colabrese, Thomas.
Mr. Colabrese requested that all faithful navigators of Council No. 2010 Knights of Columbus be honorary pallbearers.
Friends will be received at Hinkle Funeral Home in Davis Wednesday from 3 p.m. until 8 p.m.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at St. Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic Church with Father Lino P. Ebejer as celebrant. Interment will follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Thomas.
Hinkle Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
John T. Colabrese 1915-2003 Obituary
