Paul E. Breen Jr. of Whitsett, N.C., peacefully passed away on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020, at The Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital in Greensboro, N.C. He was 90.
Son of the late Paul E. Breen Sr. and Emma (Crawford) Breen, he was born in Wantage, N.J.
He was a graduate of Sussex High School. He had been a resident of Sussex County for most of his life before recently moving to North Carolina.
He had been employed by the New Jersey Department of Transportation as a road department foreman before his retirement. He also was a paving contractor, working with his brother, Don Breen, and was in charge of the maintenance for school bus shelters. He was a member of the Fellowship of Jehovah Witnesses, loved bluegrass and country music, attending music festivals and farmed and gardened for many years.
He enjoyed his 90th birthday at a family gathering in North Carolina. He will certainly be remembered for his wonderful storytelling and many people will continue to share his memories.
Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his loving wife of 60 years, Ruth (Thornton) Breen; son, Paul E. Breen III; brothers, William and Franklin Breen; and sisters, Dorothy Sevek and Violet Vreeland.
He is survived by his daughters, Patsy Breen Caviness and her husband, Alton Caviness, of Whitsett, N.C., and Jeanne Busacco and her husband, Mike, of Brown Summit, N.C.; brothers, Bob Breen of Sussex, N.J., and Don Breen of Milford, Pa.; sister, Janet Dutko of Sussex, N.J.; and 11 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.
Visitation was held Jan. 28 at Pinkel Funeral Home, Sussex, N.J. Funeral services were held Jan. 29 at the funeral home. Interment followed at Clove Cemetery.