Thomas F. Dorko

Thomas F. Dorko, of Wilkes-Barre, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, at his home. He had just celebrated his 87th birthday with relatives. Born December 1, 1936, in Wilkes-Barre, he was the son of the late Joseph and Helen Dombroski Dorko.

Thomas attended Marymount grade School and was a 1954 graduate of G.A.R. Memorial High School, Wilkes-Barre. He worked several jobs before being inducted into the U.S. Army in 1960. He was stationed at the 39th parralel, the Demilitarized Zone in Korea for 2 years.

Upon returning to the United States, he was discharged from the military in California and settled in Los Angeles where he joined several of his high school friends who had moved there from Wilkes-Barre. He achieved a position at Hughes Aircraft as a machinist and working up to the position Shop Steward.

All of his life, Tom was an avid outdoorsman. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and shooting, really enjoying competition on small caliber targets. Riding motorcycles through the California deserts shooting at jackrabbits was also a favorite pastime. 

After retirement, he and his wife settled in Henderson, NV, and after some time he moved back to Wilkes-Barre in 1999. Tom lived with and attended to his elderly mother, Helen, until she passed away at 104 years old.

He also enjoyed socializing with his siblings, especially Helene and Bob Roccograndi i Kingston. Tom will be greatly missed. He was preceded in death by his brother, Joseph Dorko.

He is survived by a step daughter and step grandchildren in California; and siblings, Carl of Harrisburg, PA, William of Montgomery Village, MD, Helene Roccograndi of Kingston, and Kathlene of Harveys Lake, PA; brother and sisters-in-laws; and numerous nieces, nephews, and grand nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday at 11:00am at our Lady of Hope Parish, 40 Park Avenue, Wilkes-Barre. The Reverend John S. Terry, Pastor, will be Celebrant. Interment with Military Honors will follow in St. Mary's Maternity Cemetery, West Wyoming. Friends may call Monday morning at the church from 10:00am until time of Mass.