James Gaughan

James Gaughan, Olyphant Postmaster from 1968 until his retirement in 1980, died, Monday, March 11th at his daughter’s home in Columbia, MD.  His wife of 40 years, Kathleen Husvar Gaughan, died in 1985.  He resided in Olyphant most of his life, moving to Maryland in 2000.Born in 1925 in Peckville, to James and Mary Stanton Gaughan, he graduated from Olyphant High School in 1942 and served in the U.S. Army during World War II.  His work in the Army included serving as a gunnery instructor at West Point.  After the war he attended the University of Scranton, studying accounting.He was a career U.S. Postal Service employee, beginning as a clerk in Philadelphia in 1950 and ending his federal career as the Olyphant Postmaster.  From 1978 to 1980 he was selected as a Master Instructor at the Management Academy Postal Service Training and Development Institute in Bethesda, MD.  In this position, he trained newly appointed postmasters from throughout the Eastern United States.  After his retirement from the government, he worked for 15 years for his brother, Joe at SWADE Auto Sales and Auction, handling the finances.He was a member of St. Patrick’s Church, Olyphant and St. John the Evangelist Church, Columbia, MD.  He was also a member of the American Legion, Raymond Henry Post 327, Olyphant.He is survived by two daughters: Margaret Hall and her husband, Larry, Columbia, MD and Mary L. Gaughan, Washington, D.C.; two grandchildren, Brian Hall and his wife, Jeanne, Washington, D.C. and Jeffrey James Hall of Tokyo, Japan; one great grandson, Calder A. Hall, Washington, D.C.  He also leaves behind two brothers: Joseph Gaughan, Dickson City and Eugene Gaughan and wife, Elaine, Carlisle; numerous nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends, including his dear friend, Amy Herlihy of Columbia, MD.His brother, John, died in 1980 and his sister, Marian Watson, died in 2009.Funeral Services will be held on Saturday at 9AM from the Hudak-O’Shea Funeral Home, 115 Garfield Ave., Olyphant.  Military Services will be conducted at 8:45AM by American Legion Raymond Henry Post 327, Olyphant.  Mass will follow at 9:30AM at St. Patrick’s Church, Delaware St., Olyphant.Burial will take place in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Blakely.Friends may call on Friday from 4 to 7PM at the funeral home.Contributions may be made to: National Parkinson Foundation, Gift Processing Center, P.O. Box 5018, Hagerstown, MD, 21741-5018.