John Joseph “Jay” McCloskey, Jr.

John Joseph “Jay” McCloskey, Jr., age 70, of Wilmington, DE, passed away on Sunday, January 28, 2024, surrounded by his family.

Born on March 6, 1953 in Wilmington, DE to the late Lois and John J. McCloskey, Sr., Jay grew up in Newark, DE and graduated from Delcastle Technical High School in 1973. He studied masonry and received sports letters serving as baseball, wrestling and basketball manager. Jay enlisted in the United States Army in 1974 and served 20 valiant years in the infantry with duties in Germany and Korea, aide to commanding officer of Fort Carson, CO, and as Ordinance Sergeant for Apache helicopters while deployed during Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

Jay pursued many interests throughout his life. He enjoyed listening and singing along to music especially Olivia Newton John, Seekers, Simon & Garfunkel, John Denver, Up With People, and especially Ballad of the Green Beret. He was a CB Radio enthusiast, using the handle Bootlegger, and watching the movie Smokey & the Bandit more times than could be counted. Jay was an accomplished bowler, participating in many leagues and tournaments, striking 300 several times and awarded highest average, series, and game throughout his career.

Jay was most happy, however, when he was surrounded by trains. Big trains, when volunteering countless hours helping passengers on the Wilmington & Western Railroad, and little trains, collecting and showcasing HO & Lionel models. He was thrilled to travel on Amtrak across the country several times.

Jay was proud of his military career and had most recently become a lifetime member of the VFW in Hockessin, DE.

Jay will be forever remembered by his family including four nieces, four nephews, five great nieces and nephews, and especially siblings, Karen Marie (Tim), Paul Richard (Rin), William Edward (Michele), and James Martin (Karen).

A visitation for family and friends will be held from 10 am until 11 am on Wednesday, February 7, 2024, at Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Home, 121 West Park Place, Newark, DE, where a funeral service will begin at 11 am. A committal service will begin at 10 am on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, in the chapel of Delaware Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 2465 Chesapeake City Road, Bear, DE.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jay’s memory to Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301 or online by clicking here or to Wilmington & Western Railroad, P.O. Box 5787, Wilmington, DE 19808 or online by clicking here.