Pastor Richard John Thomas, of Marion and formerly of Pennsylvania, was resurrected to be with his Lord and Savior and be reunited with the love of his life, Anna Mae, early Monday morning, July 30, 2012, at the Community Healthcare Center just four weeks before his 100 birthday.
On August 28, 1912, Richard was born in Ebensburg, Pennsylvania, the only child of the late John L. and May (Leighty) Thomas.
Knowing from an early age he wanted to serve the Lord, Richard graduated from Eastern Baptist Seminary (Palmer Theological Seminary) on May 10, 1938 and was ordained at the Ebensburg Baptist Church on March 28, 1938. He also earned a Master’s in Education from Eastern Baptist Seminary (Palmer Theological Seminary) on May 20, 1960.
On the same day he graduated from seminary school, Richard married the love of his life, Anna Mae Weigant. Together they both had smiles that would light up a room. They shared over 59 wonderful years of marriage. She preceded him in death on February 11, 1998.
A man of the deepest faith, Pastor Richard served in the following American Baptist churches: New Geneva, New Milford and Kennett Square Pennsylvania. He received the Town and Country Award from the Pennsylvania Baptist Convention in 1949. He was an Associate Administrator and Chaplain at Baptist Children’s House in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He retired from Fairpark Baptist Church in Marion, Ohio. During his retirement he served as interim Pastor in the following churches: Susquehanna, Lancaster, Westfield, Carbondale, Aldenville, Ulysses and Gold, Pennsylvania and East Sandwich, Massachusetts. He loved to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with anyone he came in contact with. He was at his best in the pastoral care role. He directed youth during the summer in his early ministry. In his 90’s, he started a Bible Study for patients in the Alzheimer’s Unit at Heartland in Marion, Ohio. Throughout his ministries, he had traced over 1000 people’s hands in a prayer book and laid his hand over theirs to pray for them.
With a love for singing, Richard was involved in the Fairpark Baptist Church Choir and Marion Senior Center Chorus.
With a love for sports, Richard enjoyed coaching basketball in his younger days at Great Bend, Pennsylvania.
Throughout his life, Richard took pictures which he made into postcards to send birthday greetings to people.
Always trying to better himself and continue learning, Richard was the oldest person to attend LEI classes at OSU Marion/MTC. He also enjoyed reading, gardening, and was proud to have won many ribbons at the Marion County Fair for his floral displays, antiques and pictures.
He will be dearly missed by his beloved daughter Ann Thomas of Marion; a cousin, Allene Stoika of Ebensburg, Pennsylvania; and a great cousin, Dana Stephens of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
His family will greet friends from 3 – 5 p.m. on Tuesday, August 7th, at the Fairpark Baptist Church, 940 Bermuda Drive, Marion. Services giving glory to God for his nearly 100 years of devoted service will follow at 5 p.m. with Pastors David Rush, Mark Schuring and Rev. Kenneth Durstche officiating. Burial will be held at a later date in North Jackson Cemetery, in North Jackson, Pennsylvania at a later date.
Contributions may be made in Richard’s memory to Palmer Theological Seminary, Marion Senior Center, and Fairpark Baptist Church, and they may be sent to the care of the funeral home.
Denzer-Farison-Hottinger & Snyder Funeral Home is honored to have been chosen to serve Pastor Richard’s family and your private condolences may be expressed to them online by visiting www.snyderfuneralhomes.com.
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