John R. Thomas

John R. Thomas, 74, of Washington, died Sunday, October 14, 2012, in HCR Manor Care, McMurray. He was born May 20, 1938, in Washington, a son of the late Harold Yancey Thomas and Odella Fullum Thomas. Mr. Thomas was a veteran of the Army and worked at Washington and Jefferson College for 37 years, retiring as maintenance supervisor. An avid sports fan, he especially enjoyed the Steelers, Notre Dame and the Dodgers, and loved spending time with is family On September 26, 1959, he married Betty L. Barfield, who survives. Also surviving are two sons, John R. Thomas, Jr., and Curtis Thomas; two daughters, Cynthia Thomas and Lorri Thomas, all of Washington; six brothers, Benny (Patty) Thomas of Washington, Donald (Jay) Thomas, Moses Thomas and Robert (Toni) Thomas, all of Michigan, Richard Thomas of Washington and Isaac Thomas of Pittsburgh; four sisters, Della Wise of Canonsburg, Myrtle Mathis, Becky Fields and Mary Thomas, all of Washington; 10 grandchildren, Curtis Jr., Travis, Cedric, Jordan, Kori, James, Bryan and Rhamir Thomas, Eugene Scott and Kera Holmes; and seven great-grandchildren. Deceased are two sisters, Doris Keene and Rita Thomas. Friends will be received Thursday from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m., in William G. Neal Funeral Homes, Ltd., 925 Allison Avenue, Washington. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m., Friday, October 19th, in Nazareth Baptist Church, 123 North Lincoln Street, Washington, with Rev. Marshall Davis officiating. Burial will follow in Washington Cemetery. Military rites will be accorded graveside by American Legion Edwin Scott Linton Post 175.