Walter L. Thomas

  Walter L. Thomas, Sr. 86, formerly of Cochranville, passed away on Thursday October 15, 2009 at the Tel Hai Retirement Community in Honey Brook. He was the husband of the late Sara Graybeal Thomas who died on June 9, 2009. They had shared 67 years of marriage.

Born in Upper Oxford Twp., he was the son of the late Chester A. and Sarah E. Shivery Thomas.

Walter was a 1941 graduate of the Cochranville High School. He proudly served in the US Army during WWII with the 2nd Inf. Division in the European Theater of Operations. After the war, he was employed by General Motors retiring in 1978 as maintenance supervisor with over 31 years of service.

He was a member of the Cochranville United Methodist Church, the Parkesburg VFW, #444 Millhiem American Legion, life member of the 2nd Inf. Division Assoc., and life member of the Cochranville Fire Co. and of the Ephrata Hunting Club.

He is survived by three children: Louise T. Cherry of N.Y., Arlene T., wife of Robert Mendenhall of Gap and Walter L. Thomas Jr. and wife Amy of Little Britain; 19 grandchildren, 30 great grandchildren, one great great granddaughter; one brother Jesse Thomas of Cochranville; and sons-in-law, Robert Prouse of Millsboro, DE and Richard Shaub of Pennsville, N.J. He was preceded in death by two daughters, Janet T. Prouse and Donna K. Shaub; and his siblings, Chester and William Thomas, and Myrtle Groff, Sarah Varner, Margaret Propst and Dorothy Fleck.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, October 21, 2009 at 11 a.m. at the Wilde Funeral Home, 434 Main St. Parkesburg, PA followed by interment at the Cochranville Methodist Cemetery. Family and friends are also invited to attend the viewing at the funeral home from 10 a.m until the time of the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Cochranville United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 417, Cochranville, PA 19330.

Online condolences can be posted at www.wildefuneralhome.com