Kenneth Gordon McCloskey was born on May 16, 1923. He was the first of two sons born to Hilda (nee Plitt) and Leslie O. McCloskey. Five years later, the family was completed when his brother Harold was born. The boys' father, Leslie, would gain employment as a manager with Pure Carbonic Corp before 1930. The family moved to Montgomery County, PA near Philadelphia so their Dad could work at the plant. Later, they relocated near corporate headquarters in New York City moving to Union, NJ and then later into Queens, NY by 1940. These were Ken McCloskey's school years. On December 19, 1939, a very memorable moment occurred for the sixteen year old when his father took him to the NYC premier of Gone With the Wind.
By the spring of 1940, World War II was raging in Europe and dominated the headlines. Ken graduated High School in 1941, thereafter his family returned to Baltimore, Maryland. Ken enlisted in the US Army on February 26, 1943 and after completing boot camp was stationed near London, England in November 1943. After the D-Day operations, Ken was sent to the battlefield. He saw action in France and was wounded on two occasions. He was awarded a bronze star along with two purple hearts during his military service. Ken returned to civilian life in 1946 and he soon met Rosemarie Cullen. The young couple was married two years later in May 1948. Soon after, Ken began a long and very successful career in sales at Mrs. Filberts. Ken and Rosemarie would begin to experience the joys of parenting in the 1950s. Eldest son William Charles was born in February 1952, his brother Michael arrived in September 1954.
The family made their home in the Baltimore suburb of Woodlawn until 1968 when they moved to Ellicott City, MD.
Ken's sons would both graduate from Western Maryland College in the mid 1970s. In the meantime, Ken continued his career at Filberts while his wife Rosemarie worked at Scott Melville Insurance brokerage. When his in-laws, Charles and Grace Cullen retired from their Marathon Key Florida tour boat business around 1970, Ken had a lovely apartment built for them on the lower level of his home. The Cullens lived their peacefully until they passed on in the late 1980s.
Ken was an avid sports fan and an excellent amateur golfer. He enjoyed playing golf on many of the country's best courses over the decades. He loved the Baltimore Colts, then later the Ravens, attending many games over the decades. He was equally a fan of the Baltimore Orioles and was in attendance at Baltimore's Memorial Stadium when the team won it's fourth straight game of the 1966 World Series, completing it's first championship. He and his family, along with brother Harold's family annually attended many Preakness Stakes races from the 1960s into the 1980s. Friends were also invited to come along and race day never disappointed.
Ken was also very active in his church and at VFW Post 7472 and American Legion Post 156 where he served as Chaplain. After retiring from J. H. Filbert's, Ken continued his career in the food business with the marketer Crossmark until the company relocated their offices to Massachusetts in 2006. During golfing season, he worked on Sundays at Willow Spring Golf Course selling golfers' supplies. Amazingly, he continued this job through the summer of 2015.
Ken's life wasn't without some very difficult times. On August 5, 1995, Ken's wife of 47 years, Rosemarie, passed on at 69 years of age. In 1998, his second son, Michael, suddenly passed away in early December. Harold, his only brother, affectionately known as Bud, then followed in passing on May 9, 2001. The strength of the McCloskey family persevered and it's consolation was in their faith.
In honor of his Dad's 90th Birthday, May 16, 2013, his son Bill took him to Oriole Park at Camden Yards. They had a fine lunch and saw the Orioles play the Padres. Since Ken was such a fine father, the visiting team seemed quite fittingly named for the occasion. Ken was also a proud grandfather of three, Kelly, Molly and Colin and a great-grandfather of seven. As a friend of his sons, I knew Ken McCloskey for 40 years. He was truly like a second Dad to me, notably after my own father had departed this life. On April 21, 2016, Kenneth Gordon McCloskey having lived a good life quietly passed on. He was just shy of his 93rd birthday.
By the spring of 1940, World War II was raging in Europe and dominated the headlines. Ken graduated High School in 1941, thereafter his family returned to Baltimore, Maryland. Ken enlisted in the US Army on February 26, 1943 and after completing boot camp was stationed near London, England in November 1943. After the D-Day operations, Ken was sent to the battlefield. He saw action in France and was wounded on two occasions. He was awarded a bronze star along with two purple hearts during his military service. Ken returned to civilian life in 1946 and he soon met Rosemarie Cullen. The young couple was married two years later in May 1948. Soon after, Ken began a long and very successful career in sales at Mrs. Filberts. Ken and Rosemarie would begin to experience the joys of parenting in the 1950s. Eldest son William Charles was born in February 1952, his brother Michael arrived in September 1954.
The family made their home in the Baltimore suburb of Woodlawn until 1968 when they moved to Ellicott City, MD.
Ken's sons would both graduate from Western Maryland College in the mid 1970s. In the meantime, Ken continued his career at Filberts while his wife Rosemarie worked at Scott Melville Insurance brokerage. When his in-laws, Charles and Grace Cullen retired from their Marathon Key Florida tour boat business around 1970, Ken had a lovely apartment built for them on the lower level of his home. The Cullens lived their peacefully until they passed on in the late 1980s.
Ken was an avid sports fan and an excellent amateur golfer. He enjoyed playing golf on many of the country's best courses over the decades. He loved the Baltimore Colts, then later the Ravens, attending many games over the decades. He was equally a fan of the Baltimore Orioles and was in attendance at Baltimore's Memorial Stadium when the team won it's fourth straight game of the 1966 World Series, completing it's first championship. He and his family, along with brother Harold's family annually attended many Preakness Stakes races from the 1960s into the 1980s. Friends were also invited to come along and race day never disappointed.
Ken was also very active in his church and at VFW Post 7472 and American Legion Post 156 where he served as Chaplain. After retiring from J. H. Filbert's, Ken continued his career in the food business with the marketer Crossmark until the company relocated their offices to Massachusetts in 2006. During golfing season, he worked on Sundays at Willow Spring Golf Course selling golfers' supplies. Amazingly, he continued this job through the summer of 2015.
Ken's life wasn't without some very difficult times. On August 5, 1995, Ken's wife of 47 years, Rosemarie, passed on at 69 years of age. In 1998, his second son, Michael, suddenly passed away in early December. Harold, his only brother, affectionately known as Bud, then followed in passing on May 9, 2001. The strength of the McCloskey family persevered and it's consolation was in their faith.
In honor of his Dad's 90th Birthday, May 16, 2013, his son Bill took him to Oriole Park at Camden Yards. They had a fine lunch and saw the Orioles play the Padres. Since Ken was such a fine father, the visiting team seemed quite fittingly named for the occasion. Ken was also a proud grandfather of three, Kelly, Molly and Colin and a great-grandfather of seven. As a friend of his sons, I knew Ken McCloskey for 40 years. He was truly like a second Dad to me, notably after my own father had departed this life. On April 21, 2016, Kenneth Gordon McCloskey having lived a good life quietly passed on. He was just shy of his 93rd birthday.
Kenneth Gordon McCloskey was born on May 16, 1923. He was the first of two sons born to Hilda (nee Plitt) and Leslie O. McCloskey. Five years later, the family was completed when his brother Harold was born. The boys' father, Leslie, would gain employment as a manager with Pure Carbonic Corp before 1930. The family moved to Montgomery County, PA near Philadelphia so their Dad could work at the plant. Later, they relocated near corporate headquarters in New York City moving to Union, NJ and then later into Queens, NY by 1940. These were Ken McCloskey's school years. On December 19, 1939, a very memorable moment occurred for the sixteen year old when his father took him to the NYC premier of Gone With the Wind.
By the spring of 1940, World War II was raging in Europe and dominated the headlines. Ken graduated High School in 1941, thereafter his family returned to Baltimore, Maryland. Ken enlisted in the US Army on February 26, 1943 and after completing boot camp was stationed near London, England in November 1943. After the D-Day operations, Ken was sent to the battlefield. He saw action in France and was wounded on two occasions. He was awarded a bronze star along with two purple hearts during his military service. Ken returned to civilian life in 1946 and he soon met Rosemarie Cullen. The young couple was married two years later in May 1948. Soon after, Ken began a long and very successful career in sales at Mrs. Filberts. Ken and Rosemarie would begin to experience the joys of parenting in the 1950s. Eldest son William Charles was born in February 1952, his brother Michael arrived in September 1954.
The family made their home in the Baltimore suburb of Woodlawn until 1968 when they moved to Ellicott City, MD.
Ken's sons would both graduate from Western Maryland College in the mid 1970s. In the meantime, Ken continued his career at Filberts while his wife Rosemarie worked at Scott Melville Insurance brokerage. When his in-laws, Charles and Grace Cullen retired from their Marathon Key Florida tour boat business around 1970, Ken had a lovely apartment built for them on the lower level of his home. The Cullens lived their peacefully until they passed on in the late 1980s.
Ken was an avid sports fan and an excellent amateur golfer. He enjoyed playing golf on many of the country's best courses over the decades. He loved the Baltimore Colts, then later the Ravens, attending many games over the decades. He was equally a fan of the Baltimore Orioles and was in attendance at Baltimore's Memorial Stadium when the team won it's fourth straight game of the 1966 World Series, completing it's first championship. He and his family, along with brother Harold's family annually attended many Preakness Stakes races from the 1960s into the 1980s. Friends were also invited to come along and race day never disappointed.
Ken was also very active in his church and at VFW Post 7472 and American Legion Post 156 where he served as Chaplain. After retiring from J. H. Filbert's, Ken continued his career in the food business with the marketer Crossmark until the company relocated their offices to Massachusetts in 2006. During golfing season, he worked on Sundays at Willow Spring Golf Course selling golfers' supplies. Amazingly, he continued this job through the summer of 2015.
Ken's life wasn't without some very difficult times. On August 5, 1995, Ken's wife of 47 years, Rosemarie, passed on at 69 years of age. In 1998, his second son, Michael, suddenly passed away in early December. Harold, his only brother, affectionately known as Bud, then followed in passing on May 9, 2001. The strength of the McCloskey family persevered and it's consolation was in their faith.
In honor of his Dad's 90th Birthday, May 16, 2013, his son Bill took him to Oriole Park at Camden Yards. They had a fine lunch and saw the Orioles play the Padres. Since Ken was such a fine father, the visiting team seemed quite fittingly named for the occasion. Ken was also a proud grandfather of three, Kelly, Molly and Colin and a great-grandfather of seven. As a friend of his sons, I knew Ken McCloskey for 40 years. He was truly like a second Dad to me, notably after my own father had departed this life. On April 21, 2016, Kenneth Gordon McCloskey having lived a good life quietly passed on. He was just shy of his 93rd birthday.
By the spring of 1940, World War II was raging in Europe and dominated the headlines. Ken graduated High School in 1941, thereafter his family returned to Baltimore, Maryland. Ken enlisted in the US Army on February 26, 1943 and after completing boot camp was stationed near London, England in November 1943. After the D-Day operations, Ken was sent to the battlefield. He saw action in France and was wounded on two occasions. He was awarded a bronze star along with two purple hearts during his military service. Ken returned to civilian life in 1946 and he soon met Rosemarie Cullen. The young couple was married two years later in May 1948. Soon after, Ken began a long and very successful career in sales at Mrs. Filberts. Ken and Rosemarie would begin to experience the joys of parenting in the 1950s. Eldest son William Charles was born in February 1952, his brother Michael arrived in September 1954.
The family made their home in the Baltimore suburb of Woodlawn until 1968 when they moved to Ellicott City, MD.
Ken's sons would both graduate from Western Maryland College in the mid 1970s. In the meantime, Ken continued his career at Filberts while his wife Rosemarie worked at Scott Melville Insurance brokerage. When his in-laws, Charles and Grace Cullen retired from their Marathon Key Florida tour boat business around 1970, Ken had a lovely apartment built for them on the lower level of his home. The Cullens lived their peacefully until they passed on in the late 1980s.
Ken was an avid sports fan and an excellent amateur golfer. He enjoyed playing golf on many of the country's best courses over the decades. He loved the Baltimore Colts, then later the Ravens, attending many games over the decades. He was equally a fan of the Baltimore Orioles and was in attendance at Baltimore's Memorial Stadium when the team won it's fourth straight game of the 1966 World Series, completing it's first championship. He and his family, along with brother Harold's family annually attended many Preakness Stakes races from the 1960s into the 1980s. Friends were also invited to come along and race day never disappointed.
Ken was also very active in his church and at VFW Post 7472 and American Legion Post 156 where he served as Chaplain. After retiring from J. H. Filbert's, Ken continued his career in the food business with the marketer Crossmark until the company relocated their offices to Massachusetts in 2006. During golfing season, he worked on Sundays at Willow Spring Golf Course selling golfers' supplies. Amazingly, he continued this job through the summer of 2015.
Ken's life wasn't without some very difficult times. On August 5, 1995, Ken's wife of 47 years, Rosemarie, passed on at 69 years of age. In 1998, his second son, Michael, suddenly passed away in early December. Harold, his only brother, affectionately known as Bud, then followed in passing on May 9, 2001. The strength of the McCloskey family persevered and it's consolation was in their faith.
In honor of his Dad's 90th Birthday, May 16, 2013, his son Bill took him to Oriole Park at Camden Yards. They had a fine lunch and saw the Orioles play the Padres. Since Ken was such a fine father, the visiting team seemed quite fittingly named for the occasion. Ken was also a proud grandfather of three, Kelly, Molly and Colin and a great-grandfather of seven. As a friend of his sons, I knew Ken McCloskey for 40 years. He was truly like a second Dad to me, notably after my own father had departed this life. On April 21, 2016, Kenneth Gordon McCloskey having lived a good life quietly passed on. He was just shy of his 93rd birthday.
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