Obituary of Thomas A. Dwyer

Thomas A. Dwyer, age 92, died on July 7, 2012, after a short hospitalization at Christiana Care's Wilmington Hospital. A lifelong resident of Pennsville Township, New Jersey, Tom and his wife of almost 67 years, Ruth, recently had moved to Forwood Manor in Wilmington DE. Tom was born on September 16, 1919. He served as a military police officer in the U.S. Army during World War II and participated in the invasion of Normandy. He also served during the Korean conflict; attaining the rank of First Lieutenant and receiving many field citations including a Bronze Star. In 1946, Tom began his civilian career in law enforcement. He served as Chief of Police for Pennsville Township from 1962 until 1976 before retiring from the police department after 30 years of service. He subsequently served as Director of Public Safety for Lower Alloways Creek Township, location of the Salem Nuclear Generating Facility, where he organized the township's first police force and participated in drawing up early emergency evacuation plans. He concluded his long career in public service as Director of Emergency Management and Coordinator of Public Safety for Pennsville Township, retiring at the age of 80. For his professional accomplishments, the Salem County Bar Association awarded him its Liberty Bell Award. Tom was a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and served as president of its Southern New Jersey Chapter in 1967. He was also a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, the Fraternal Order of Police, the Order of the Free Masons and the Salem County Sportsman's Club. Tom is survived by his wife, the former Ruth E. Bell; his sister Virginia Skilton of Pennsville; his son Thomas W. Dwyer of Minneapolis, MN; his daughter Charlene D. Davis of Rockland, DE; his grandchildren Ross Dwyer, Elizabeth Dwyer, John W. Davis IV (J.) and J.'s wife Molly; and his great grandchildren Sadie S. Davis and John W. Davis V. Friends and former colleagues are invited to join the family in a memorial services on Wednesday, July 11,2012 at Trinity United Methodist Church, South Broadway & Church Street, Pennsville, New Jersey. Visitors may pay their respects from 9 until 11 a.m. The service will begin at 11 a.m. Internment at Lawnside Cemetery, Woodstown, N.J. will follow. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Christiana Care, P.O. Box 1668, Wilmington, DE 19899-1668. or Trinity United Methodist Church, Pennsville, NJ.