Bernard Thomas Quigley, 92, of the Buffalo, NY Area, and formerly of the Grampian Area, passed away on Feb. 20 at the Kenmore-Mercy Hospital in Buffalo, NY.
Born Sept. 23, 1917 in Grampian, he was the son of Bernard Leo and Nettie Agnes (McKenrick) Quigley. Growing up in Grampian and attending the Sixth Street primary school, he was a graduate of Curwensville High School.
After graduation, as did any graduate in those economic times, he became an itinerant farm worker utilizing shoe leather express and a good hitchhiking technique to take him all over the state to find temporary jobs, earn some money and maintain self respect.
In 1939, reaching the age of 21, he enlisted in the U S Navy, attending basic training in Newport, RI. After basic training he was assigned to the USS Anderson, a newly commissioned destroyer escort. His naval life for the next ten years was primarily tied up with the Anderson. Early on the Anderson took Mr. Quigley up and down the eastern coast and all the way to Russia escorting convoys of supplies for the countries already involved in the war with Germany. The Anderson was in Iceland on Dec. 7, 1941, and soon received orders for Pearl Harbor and the Battle of the Pacific. The Anderson and her crew saw action in the battles of Kwajalein, Leyte Gulf, Coral Sea, and Midway. One of his last duties was to rejoin the Anderson and be among the crew that moored her in the Bikini Atoll where an atomic test put her to rest.
After being discharged as a Chief Petty Officer at San Diego in Jan. of 1949, Mr. Quigley, his wife the and their daughter returned to Grampian and then to Tonawanda, NY where he worked for Merchants Mutual Insurance as an agent until his retirement.
Surviving is his wife the former Betty Lou Haley whom he married on Dec. 21, 1945 in Yuma, AZ, daughters Carol Hansen and her husband Hal of Quincy, MA, Ruth Dillingham and her husband Scott of Cazenovia, NY, and sons Bernard W. Quigley of Hamburg, NY, and Michael “Buck” Quigley and his wife Heather of Buffalo, NY.
Also surviving are three grandchildren, and two sisters Alice McConnell of San Diego and Helem M. (Quigley) Waterloo and her husband William of Grampian.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Bonaventure’s Roman Catholic Church in Grampian on Feb. 26 at 10:00 a.m. with Rev. Father Mark J. Mastrian as celebrant. Interment will be in the St. Bonaventure’s Cemetery Grampian.
Friends will be received at the Chester C. Chidboy Funeral Home, Inc. of Curwensville on Feb. 25 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. and Friday from 9 until 9:30 a.m., when the procession will depart for the church.
The Rosary will be recited at 3 p.m. Thursday and a scripture Vigil Service will be conducted at 8:15 p.m. Thursday, both at the funeral home.
Military Honors will be accorded at the cemetery by members of the Clearfield Honor Guard.
Online condolences may be made to the family at http://www.chidboyfuneralhome.com/.
The Chester C. Chidboy Funeral Home, Inc. of Curwensville is in charge of the arrangements.