Obituary for Roy E. Thomas
Roy E. Thomas, 88, Gettysburg, PA died Tuesday, July 18, 2017 at his home surrounded by his family.
He was born September 22, 1928 in Biglerville, PA the son of the late William and Katie Hawkins Thomas. Roy is survived by his wife Jean McIntire Thomas.
Mr. Thomas was an active member of the Gettysburg Presbyterian Church where he has through the years served on various boards. He attended Biglerville High School and early in his career worked at several Biglerville service stations. He then moved to Gettysburg where he owned and operated three service stations at various sites around town. He then became service manager at Warren Chevrolet which became Tate Chevrolet and then service manage at Snyder Dodge/Chrysler. Roy then switch career’s and became a US Postal employee serving as a rural carrier and served as a trainer for the QWL-EI program.
He was an active community volunteer involved in many civic organizations. Roy was a Charter member of Historic Gettysburg Kiwanis Club and organized their RIF (Reading is Fundamental) books to children program, he was an original founder of the Adams County SPCA, member of both the Gettysburg and Central Pennsylvania Travel Councils. Roy was a member of the Adams County Chamber of Commerce where he received their 1996 Citizen of the Year Award. He was a life member of the Gettysburg Fire Company. Roy was an avid gardener who was a Penn State Master Gardener, the only male member of the Gettysburg Garden Club and organized the community garden at the Ag Center on the Harrisburg Road. He was a Boy Scout leader, active in the Salvation Army and their Kettle Drive at Christmas. He was a driver for “Meals-on-Wheels”. He was also a former Associate Director for the Adams County Conservation District, a former member of the Pennsylvania Government Justice Commission. He and his friend Ernie Simpson ran a program the rehabbed bicycles and sent them to needy families in Central America. And for many years was a Straban Township Supervisor. Roy enjoyed helping children and other people in other ways especially children. And he was an avid gardener and reader.
In addition to his wife, Roy is survived by five children; Gary E. Thomas and his wife Karen of Biglerville, PA, Linda Appel and her husband Stephen of Newburgh, IN, Bonnie Post and her husband Sheldon of Levittown, PA, Pete Thomas and his wife Becky of Gettysburg, PA, Randy Thomas and his fiancé Tracey of Gettysburg, PA, six grandchildren; Wesley Thomas, Andrew Thomas, Angela Appel, Emily Devereux, Matthew Thomas, Minette Roberson, 10 great grandchildren, a sister, Betty Shryock of Indianapolis, IN, a brother, Earl Thomas of Gaithersburg, MD. He was predeceased by a sister, Kathleen Crum.
A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, July 22, 2017 at 1:00 PM at the Gettysburg Presbyterian Church, with Rev. Lou Nyiri officiating. The family will receive friends following the service in the community room of the church. In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to the Adams County SPCA, 11 Goldenville Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325 or the Adams County Library, 140 Baltimore Street, Gettysburg, PA 17325 or the Salvation Army, 153 North Stratton Street, Gettysburg, PA 17325
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He was born September 22, 1928 in Biglerville, PA the son of the late William and Katie Hawkins Thomas. Roy is survived by his wife Jean McIntire Thomas.
Mr. Thomas was an active member of the Gettysburg Presbyterian Church where he has through the years served on various boards. He attended Biglerville High School and early in his career worked at several Biglerville service stations. He then moved to Gettysburg where he owned and operated three service stations at various sites around town. He then became service manager at Warren Chevrolet which became Tate Chevrolet and then service manage at Snyder Dodge/Chrysler. Roy then switch career’s and became a US Postal employee serving as a rural carrier and served as a trainer for the QWL-EI program.
He was an active community volunteer involved in many civic organizations. Roy was a Charter member of Historic Gettysburg Kiwanis Club and organized their RIF (Reading is Fundamental) books to children program, he was an original founder of the Adams County SPCA, member of both the Gettysburg and Central Pennsylvania Travel Councils. Roy was a member of the Adams County Chamber of Commerce where he received their 1996 Citizen of the Year Award. He was a life member of the Gettysburg Fire Company. Roy was an avid gardener who was a Penn State Master Gardener, the only male member of the Gettysburg Garden Club and organized the community garden at the Ag Center on the Harrisburg Road. He was a Boy Scout leader, active in the Salvation Army and their Kettle Drive at Christmas. He was a driver for “Meals-on-Wheels”. He was also a former Associate Director for the Adams County Conservation District, a former member of the Pennsylvania Government Justice Commission. He and his friend Ernie Simpson ran a program the rehabbed bicycles and sent them to needy families in Central America. And for many years was a Straban Township Supervisor. Roy enjoyed helping children and other people in other ways especially children. And he was an avid gardener and reader.
In addition to his wife, Roy is survived by five children; Gary E. Thomas and his wife Karen of Biglerville, PA, Linda Appel and her husband Stephen of Newburgh, IN, Bonnie Post and her husband Sheldon of Levittown, PA, Pete Thomas and his wife Becky of Gettysburg, PA, Randy Thomas and his fiancé Tracey of Gettysburg, PA, six grandchildren; Wesley Thomas, Andrew Thomas, Angela Appel, Emily Devereux, Matthew Thomas, Minette Roberson, 10 great grandchildren, a sister, Betty Shryock of Indianapolis, IN, a brother, Earl Thomas of Gaithersburg, MD. He was predeceased by a sister, Kathleen Crum.
A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, July 22, 2017 at 1:00 PM at the Gettysburg Presbyterian Church, with Rev. Lou Nyiri officiating. The family will receive friends following the service in the community room of the church. In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to the Adams County SPCA, 11 Goldenville Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325 or the Adams County Library, 140 Baltimore Street, Gettysburg, PA 17325 or the Salvation Army, 153 North Stratton Street, Gettysburg, PA 17325
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