Harold "Hat" Thomas

Harold Arthur “Hat” Thomas, 80, of Prosperity, died June 30, 2014, in the Washington Hospital. He was born December 15, 1933, in Nineveh, a son of Alonzo Thomas and Ida Belle Kahlbaugh Thomas. Mr. Thomas was a veteran of the United States Army. During his service from 1956-1958, he was stationed at Fort Knox for 14 months as well as in Germany for several months. Mr. Thomas was employed at Jessop Steel, where he worked in many capacities, including rigger, and retired from the black smith shop. He was a member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church and attended Bates Fork Baptist Church in Sycamore. Mr. Thomas loved training horses throughout his life and was the founder of the Flying Mane and Tail Saddle Club in Prosperity. His wife, Mildred Louise Polen, died April 25, 2009. Surviving are three daughters, Vanessa (Jim) Beatty of Prosperity, Melanie Finney of Ten Mile and Melissa (Ed) Szygenda of East Finley; a brother, William Paul Thomas of Prosperity; a sister, Martha Jane Knestrick of Waynesburg; seven grandchildren, Shane (Emma) Beatty, Joshua Finney, Jacob Finney, Derek Szygenda, Sheena Beatty, Cheyanne Finney and Rainey Szygenda; and a great grandchild, Jade Beatty. Deceased, in addition to his wife and parents, are a daughter, Valerie L. Thomas; two sisters, Shirley Thomas and Dorothy Kreston; a brother, Donald Thomas; and a stepbrother, Roy Temple. 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. Additional visitation will be held in the funeral home on Saturday, July 5th, from 10 till 11 a.m., the time of service, with Pastor Cristy Wise officiating. Burial will follow in follow in Prosperity Cemetery. (There will be no visitation in the funeral home on Friday, July 4th.) Military rites will be accorded graveside by American Legion Edwin Scott Linton Post 175. Memorial donations may be made to Pathways of Southwestern Pennsylvania, 655 Jefferson Avenue, Washington, PA 15301.