Irvin, Sr., 83 CAMDEN - Anthony Joseph Irvin, Sr. passed away on Friday, Sept. 19, 2014 at his home in Camden, at the age of 83, with his loving wife by his side. Tony was born in Centralia, Pa. on Jan. 7, 1931, the only child of Mary (Guzy) and Anthony Irvin after his father was killed in a coal mining accident. He and his mother relocated briefly to Brooklyn, N.Y. and later established permanent roots in Milwaukee, Wis. Tony attended parochial grade schools and graduated from Boy's Technical and Trade School in Milwaukee, Wis. He also attended Marquette University. Aviation and roller skating were his main interests at this time. Tony promptly enlisted in the U.S. Air Force upon receipt of his draft notice and married his first sweetheart at the same time. He was very proud of his military service. The training and teaching skills he learned as a jet engine instructor would serve him well in future endeavors. He received an honorable discharge from the U.S. Air Force and went to work for Ford Motor Company in the Jet Engine Division as a jet engine instructor. He left the Ford Motor Company and took a position in the Missile Division of Chrysler Corp. where he was closely associated with the Jupiter Ballistic Missile Weapon System. He was later transferred to Chrysler Corp. overseas and worked as a Field Representative in Italy and Turkey during the Cuban Missile Crisis. Tony was reassigned to Chrysler Corp. Space Division. He, his wife and daughter, along with a Mercedes Sports car he purchased at the factory in Germany, returned to the States on the Queen Mary. They settled in New Orleans, La. His family grew from 1 to 4, the Mercedes was sold in favor of a larger vehicle, and he divided his time between New Orleans and Cape Canaveral, Fla., working on the Apollo Space Program. An extraordinary opportunity presented itself and he moved his family to Michigan. This move launched a new career of various contractor logistic functions for support of Developmental and Operative Military testing of the XM1 (Abrams) tanks. He traveled to various testing sites in the U.S.A. including Alaska and the Panama Canal Zone. Chrysler sold their Defense Division to General Dynamics and he continued to work in the Land Systems Division until his retirement. His affiliations included past officer of Knights of Columbus, past treasurer of New Orleans Chapter of Society of Logistics Engineers and past District Governor of Lions International. Tony loved all things golf so it was fitting for him to build a home on a golf course in Tennessee, where he continued to play golf every day, weather permitting. He and his wife played many grand courses in the U.S.A., including Pebble Beach. He continued to play until his legs begged for mercy. Tony and his wife relocated to Delaware to be closer to family in N.J. He delighted in his new found friends. In addition to golf he looked forward to playing pool with his buddies and poker with his friends. He also enjoyed an occasional trip to the casino. In addition to his father, mother, stepfather, sister-in-law and brother-in-law, he was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Patricia M. Irvin. Tony is survived by Rica Reed Irvin, the love of his life for the past 3 ½ years and her family in Texas. He is also survived by his children, Cynthia L. Nugent (Joe), Windsor, Calif., Michael A. Irvin (Victoria), Egg Harbor Township, N.J., Theresa A. Scott, Oakridge, Tenn., and Anthony J. Irvin, Jr. (Mara), Santa Rosa, Calif.; , his five granddaughters, Hadley and Hunter Irvin in N.J. and Jesika, Anya and Jayda Irvin in Calif. Tony loved to travel. He and Rica enjoyed many happy times traveling by car for short trips and cross country to visit family in California and Texas and many friends in between. An informal gathering for his friends (dress code is casual) will be Tuesday, September 30, 2014 at Pippin Funeral Home, Wyoming from 3-4 p.m. with a memorial service at 4:00 p.m. Tony will be cremated and his ashes placed next to Patricia in a crypt at Arlington National Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Salvation Army, P.O. Box 123, Dover, DE 19903 or the Wounded Warriors Project, Wounded Warrior Project, 1120 G Street NW, Suite 70, Washington, DC 20005. Rest in peace Tono. You are dearly missed. Letters of condolences can be sent via pippinfh@comcast.net