Hugh Joseph Bresnahan, 88, of Grand Prairie, Texas, peacefully passed away on Friday, September 14, 2018, surrounded by his family while under hospice care at a Grapevine hospital.  He leaves behind his beloved wife, Martha.  He was born on September 26, 1929, in Chillicothe, Ohio, to Hugh and Frances (Clark) Bresnahan and graduated from Chillicothe High School in 1947.   
 
After a year of attending Ohio University, he voluntarily enlisted in the United States Navy where he served as a corpsman.  He supervised operating rooms aboard ship and was decorated for wounds received in battle during the Korean War.  He was honorably discharged as a Petty Officer 3rd Class (HM3).  He married the late Barbara Jean (White) of Akron, Ohio, on May 2, 1953, with whom he shared a life filled with love and devotion for more than 50 years.  He moved to Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, and began his life’s work at the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad.  He retired as Chief Train Dispatcher in 1989. 
 
In 1991, he moved with his wife to Burleson, Texas, to be nearer to their children and their families and was the proud father of Michael David Bresnahan and wife, Mary, of Carrollton and daughter, Mary Jo Veltman and husband, Jim, of Burleson.  He dearly loved his grandchildren; Mary (Crissie) Jara and her husband, Arthur; Elizabeth Bresnahan; Laura Bresnahan; Justin Veltman; Maureen Bresnahan; Kathryn Veltman; and Michelle Bresnahan.  He was especially delighted with his 2-year-old great-grandson, Jacob Jara.   
 
After the death of his first wife, he was blessed to find love again with Martha (Thornton) of Memphis, Tennessee and they were married on February 22, 2008.  They remained inseparable until his death. It was a joy to add his stepchildren to his beloved family, Marcia (Jimmy) Hendricks and Michael DeLuca of Houston, Texas, with grandchildren, Lauren and Devin DeLuca. 
 
He was preceded in death by his sisters Margaret Bresnahan of Chillicothe, Ohio, Rosemary (Robert) Lawhorn of Newark, Ohio, Loretta (Morris) Tilley of Shell Point, Florida and brother, Thomas (Nancy) Bresnahan of Ogunquit, Maine.  He leaves behind his sister, Jane (Daniel) Harness of Chillicothe, Ohio. 
 
Hugh loved old movies and believed there was no music but the Big Band Era of the 1940’s. He was very competitive and in his younger years, was known to clean house playing cards and Monopoly. He loved big cars and spent many years touring country roads and highways in his red convertible.  His model train collection gave him many years of pleasure, both building the layouts and accessories and dispatching his trains through complex track designs.  He described himself as ornery and lived to tease and make jokes.  He, his laughter, and the devilish twinkle in his eye, will be deeply missed. 
 
His life will be celebrated in the chapel at Mountain Valley Funeral Home, 3407 SW Wilshire Blvd. in Joshua, Texas, on Wednesday, September 19th at 9:00 a.m.  Interment will follow at Dallas-Fort Worth National Cemetery. 
 
Clint Faram, Managing Director of Mountain Valley Funeral Home is assisting the family with their arrangements.  
 
The family requests that any donations be made to St. Jude Research Hospital.

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