Thomas F. Shea, 68, of Wayne, formerly of Littleton and Ashburnham, Mass., died on Thursday, Nov. 25, after a long and courageous battle with lung disease surrounded by his loving family.

Thomas was born in Medford, Mass., on March 1, 1942, and was the son of the late James and Anastasia (Connolly) Shea. He was the brother of Joan Ricca of Lowell, Mass., James Shea of The Villages, Fla., David Shea of Plaistow, N.H., and the late Paul Shea.

He was a graduate of Medford High School and proudly served in the U.S. Navy for four years. He also studied poultry pathology at LaSalle University, PA. He was a very influential figure in the egg business for more than 50 years. He started his career as a chore boy in Massachusetts and went on to hold numerous senior management positions within the agribusiness industry in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Canada. He returned to Massachusetts to team up with his brother-in-law, the late John Ricca, to build Westminster Farms, one of the largest egg farms in North America at that time. He was concurrently a senior vice president of Radlo Food Services, Watertown, Mass., and production manager of Mount Hollow Farms, Leeds, at the time of his death.

He joined the navy to see the world, but had already found the love of his life, his wife Mary G. (Connors) Shea whom he shared his life with for the past 50 years. He was the loving father of Laurie Shea of Andover, Mass., Marianne Dill and her husband, Jeffrey, of Atkinson, N.H., Cheryl Chrones and husband, James, of Cranston, R.I., Thomas Shea and wife, Kathleen, of Chelmsford, Mass., CarolAnn Williams and husband, Craig, of Wakefield, Mass., and Shaughn Shea of Burlington, Vt. He was the fun and beloved “Grandpa” to Nicholas, Jacqueline, Kevin, Jennifer, Nicole, Michael, Meghan, Jack, Madelynne, Mary Katherine and Joseph.

As the patriarch of his large family, Tom’s sense of humor and caring spirit ensured many memorable adventures. He loved spending all of his free time with his family and friends, boating, water skiing, horseback riding, camping and playing with the family pets. His favorite times were spent captaining his pontoon boat filled with his laughing grandkids.