Obituary for Richard Charles Thomas
Richard Charles Thomas, Esq., 90, of Meadville, passed away, June 4, 2021 at home. He was born on June 28, 1930 in Meadville, a son of George and Bertha (McNamara) Thomas. He married Roberta (Cupples) Thomas in 1964.
R. Charles grew up in Meadville, graduated St. Agatha High School in 1947, then attended St. Bonaventure University BA in 1952, followed by Dickinson Law School in 1955 receiving his LLB degree. He took the Pennsylvania Bar Exam before joining the Adjutant Generals Division of the U.S. Army for two years, 4 yrs in the Army reserves. He was deployed to Germany where he handled highly classified communications with top clearance.
During this time he enjoyed playing softball while being deployed to Germany. At this time he was informed that he had passed the Bar Exam. Upon his return from the military, he joined his uncle, F. Joseph Thomas, in law practice. Admitted to practice in the Supreme Court 1956. He continued his career for 64 years. He chaired the Meadville Zoning Hearing Board, Solitor for Vernon Twp, Sadsbury Twp, West Mead Twp, Cochranton Boro, Springboro, Cambridge Springs Twp.
Meadville Jayces 3x Past President of the Meadville Chapter. Member of PA State Jaycee Senators. Life member of Junior Chamber International. Board of Directors for Associated Charities and American Red Cross. Member of Board of Corporators at Meadville Medical Center. Mr. Thomas was a longtime member of the Meadville Jaycees, Elks, where he was the Presiding Justice of the B.P.O.E of Meadville PA. and Country Club. Legal Journal Crawford County Bar Association Memorial Committee and served several terms as President of the Crawford County Bar Association. He received special recognition from the PA Supreme Court for 50 years of dedicated service. At the gathering for his 50th year of practice, he was celebrated by the Crawford County Bar Association and lauded for treating law as a “profession not a business”. Many times he was paid via produce, fruit or meat. At this ceremony the “R. Charles Thomas Service to the Public Award” was named for him. . He was active in the practice of law until a very short time ago. and an unapologetic lifelong fan of the Cleveland Indians and Browns. R. Charles enjoyed sailing with his buddy Bob Keenan-Deceased and friends. R. Charles will be remembered by many for his generous commitment to all family members, all of his professional associates, his clients, and to the young generations, his community, service to St. Agatha’s Church, and his dry sense of humor “ How are the children?” He was a man of deep faith.
He is preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Carl and Robert Thomas; as well as Robert’s wife, Joann.
He is survived by his wife, Roberta (Cupples) Thomas; his sister, Marlene Santanello and four children Rex, Sherry, Richard and Jude Thomas; as well as four grandchildren; two great grand children and eleven nieces and nephews; his godchildren, Maria Furno and Terry Favire; best friends, Judge Michael Palmisano, John Parise, Joe Furno; and extended grieving family also includes more than 100 in the Thomas, Mitchell, Antoun and Vozar reunion clan.
Family and friends are welcome to call on Tuesday, June 15th, from 4:00pm to 7:00pm at Ryan M. Warren Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., 544 Chestnut Street, Meadville. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, June 16th at 10:00am at Saint Agatha Roman Catholic Church, 353 Pine Street, Meadville with Father Jeffrey Lucas, pastor, as celebrant.
Private burial will take place at Saint Agatha Cemetery.
Please take a moment to share a memory or condolence with the family on R. Charles’ Book of Memories online at www.WarrenFH.com
R. Charles grew up in Meadville, graduated St. Agatha High School in 1947, then attended St. Bonaventure University BA in 1952, followed by Dickinson Law School in 1955 receiving his LLB degree. He took the Pennsylvania Bar Exam before joining the Adjutant Generals Division of the U.S. Army for two years, 4 yrs in the Army reserves. He was deployed to Germany where he handled highly classified communications with top clearance.
During this time he enjoyed playing softball while being deployed to Germany. At this time he was informed that he had passed the Bar Exam. Upon his return from the military, he joined his uncle, F. Joseph Thomas, in law practice. Admitted to practice in the Supreme Court 1956. He continued his career for 64 years. He chaired the Meadville Zoning Hearing Board, Solitor for Vernon Twp, Sadsbury Twp, West Mead Twp, Cochranton Boro, Springboro, Cambridge Springs Twp.
Meadville Jayces 3x Past President of the Meadville Chapter. Member of PA State Jaycee Senators. Life member of Junior Chamber International. Board of Directors for Associated Charities and American Red Cross. Member of Board of Corporators at Meadville Medical Center. Mr. Thomas was a longtime member of the Meadville Jaycees, Elks, where he was the Presiding Justice of the B.P.O.E of Meadville PA. and Country Club. Legal Journal Crawford County Bar Association Memorial Committee and served several terms as President of the Crawford County Bar Association. He received special recognition from the PA Supreme Court for 50 years of dedicated service. At the gathering for his 50th year of practice, he was celebrated by the Crawford County Bar Association and lauded for treating law as a “profession not a business”. Many times he was paid via produce, fruit or meat. At this ceremony the “R. Charles Thomas Service to the Public Award” was named for him. . He was active in the practice of law until a very short time ago. and an unapologetic lifelong fan of the Cleveland Indians and Browns. R. Charles enjoyed sailing with his buddy Bob Keenan-Deceased and friends. R. Charles will be remembered by many for his generous commitment to all family members, all of his professional associates, his clients, and to the young generations, his community, service to St. Agatha’s Church, and his dry sense of humor “ How are the children?” He was a man of deep faith.
He is preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Carl and Robert Thomas; as well as Robert’s wife, Joann.
He is survived by his wife, Roberta (Cupples) Thomas; his sister, Marlene Santanello and four children Rex, Sherry, Richard and Jude Thomas; as well as four grandchildren; two great grand children and eleven nieces and nephews; his godchildren, Maria Furno and Terry Favire; best friends, Judge Michael Palmisano, John Parise, Joe Furno; and extended grieving family also includes more than 100 in the Thomas, Mitchell, Antoun and Vozar reunion clan.
Family and friends are welcome to call on Tuesday, June 15th, from 4:00pm to 7:00pm at Ryan M. Warren Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., 544 Chestnut Street, Meadville. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, June 16th at 10:00am at Saint Agatha Roman Catholic Church, 353 Pine Street, Meadville with Father Jeffrey Lucas, pastor, as celebrant.
Private burial will take place at Saint Agatha Cemetery.
Please take a moment to share a memory or condolence with the family on R. Charles’ Book of Memories online at www.WarrenFH.com