1915
R.
2008
R. David Thomas
January 10, 1915 — March 4, 2008
Bakersfield -- R. David Thomas, Jr., age 93, died Tuesday morning, March 4, 2008 at the Northwestern Medical Center in St. Albans.
Mr. Thomas was born January 10, 1915 in Oakmont, PA, the son of the late Royal D. and Eleanor (Price) Thomas.
Mr. Thomas was a graduate of Cornell University, receiving a Bachelor of Chemistry in 1937, and a Master of Chemical Engineering in 1939. He was employed by Arcos Corporation in Philadelphia, PA from 1938 to 1980, becoming President in 1955, and Chairman of the Board in 1977. Prior to his retirement, Hoskins Manufacturing Company of Detroit acquired the company, and consolidated its operations in Mt. Carmel, PA where it has continued in business as Arcos Alloys.
Mr. Thomas has long been known in metallurgical circles, especially for his pioneering work in the field of arc welding of stainless steels and special alloys. He served the American Welding Society as its President (1960-61), and treasurer (1966-69). He was named a Fellow of the American Society of Metals (now American Society for Materials), the American Welding Society, and an Honorary Fellow of the Welding Institute in Great Britain. He received a number of awards for his many accomplishments, and for his leadership in fostering international standards for the welding industry. He was a Professional Engineer licensed in Pennsylvania and Vermont.
Generous with his time and love, Mr. Thomas was the patriarch to whom many would turn for guidance, financial and business advice and even the difficult tasks of administrating family estates and trusts. He and Virginia enjoyed the benefit of world-wide travel in connection with his many professional associations, forming friendships that have spanned decades. They vacationed at a summer home on the New Jersey shore and Lackawaxen on the Delaware River. David was an accomplished small boat sailor and racer, gardener at his homes in Philadelphia and Vermont, and occasional fisherman.
When he and Virginia moved to Vermont it was in part to help daughter Betsy establish what became one of Vermonts early sheep farms of modern times, Misty Morning Meadows. His business acumen, as well as second-in-command duties in the barn, contributed to the success of the endeavor for more than 20 years as children were born and matured, got married, and grandchildren were born, many of whom now live nearby.
Davids devotion to church work often saw him in leadership positions. Parishioners appreciated his common sense and financial steady hand which often led to his election as a vestry member, the governing board of Episcopal churches in Philadelphia and Vermont.
He is survived by his wife, The Rev. Virginia Campbell Thomas of Bakersfield, daughter Betsy Hart and her husband Alan of Bakersfield; two sons and their wives, Niel and Judith Thomas of Anchorage, AK, and Duncan and Nina Thomas of La Canada, CA; six grandchildren, Forrest Keelty and his wife Melissa, Paul Keelty and wife Regan, Shannon Keelty of Eugene, OR and Wilder, David and Dylan Thomas of Los Angeles, CA; four great grandchildren, sister-in-law Mrs. J. Duncan (Helen) Campbell of Stowe, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Besides his parents, he was predeceased by a son, Andrew Thomas, in 1952, brother Sandy Thomas, sister Bobby Norcross, two brothers-in-law, Hallock C. Campbell, J. Duncan Campbell and Duncans surviving spouse, Helen of Stowe.
Funeral services will be held at 11 AM Saturday March 8 at St. Matthews Episcopal Church, St., Enosburg Falls, VT with The Rev. Linda Maloney officiating. Interment will take place later at St. Asaphs Episcopal Church in Bala Cynwyd, PA.
For those who wish, contributions in Mr. Thomas memory may be made to St. Matthews Episcopal Church, c/o Amy Adams, treasurer, PO Box 276, Franklin Country Home Health Agency, 3 Home Health Cir., St Albans, VT 05478, or to St. Asaphs Episcopal Church, 27 Conshohocken State Rd., Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004.
Condolences may be sent to the family on-line through www.SpearsFuneralHome.com.
The family thanks Enosburg Ambulance Service, Northwest Medical Center of St. Albans and Spears Funeral Home for their exceptional service in the past week.
Mr. Thomas was born January 10, 1915 in Oakmont, PA, the son of the late Royal D. and Eleanor (Price) Thomas.
Mr. Thomas was a graduate of Cornell University, receiving a Bachelor of Chemistry in 1937, and a Master of Chemical Engineering in 1939. He was employed by Arcos Corporation in Philadelphia, PA from 1938 to 1980, becoming President in 1955, and Chairman of the Board in 1977. Prior to his retirement, Hoskins Manufacturing Company of Detroit acquired the company, and consolidated its operations in Mt. Carmel, PA where it has continued in business as Arcos Alloys.
Mr. Thomas has long been known in metallurgical circles, especially for his pioneering work in the field of arc welding of stainless steels and special alloys. He served the American Welding Society as its President (1960-61), and treasurer (1966-69). He was named a Fellow of the American Society of Metals (now American Society for Materials), the American Welding Society, and an Honorary Fellow of the Welding Institute in Great Britain. He received a number of awards for his many accomplishments, and for his leadership in fostering international standards for the welding industry. He was a Professional Engineer licensed in Pennsylvania and Vermont.
Generous with his time and love, Mr. Thomas was the patriarch to whom many would turn for guidance, financial and business advice and even the difficult tasks of administrating family estates and trusts. He and Virginia enjoyed the benefit of world-wide travel in connection with his many professional associations, forming friendships that have spanned decades. They vacationed at a summer home on the New Jersey shore and Lackawaxen on the Delaware River. David was an accomplished small boat sailor and racer, gardener at his homes in Philadelphia and Vermont, and occasional fisherman.
When he and Virginia moved to Vermont it was in part to help daughter Betsy establish what became one of Vermonts early sheep farms of modern times, Misty Morning Meadows. His business acumen, as well as second-in-command duties in the barn, contributed to the success of the endeavor for more than 20 years as children were born and matured, got married, and grandchildren were born, many of whom now live nearby.
Davids devotion to church work often saw him in leadership positions. Parishioners appreciated his common sense and financial steady hand which often led to his election as a vestry member, the governing board of Episcopal churches in Philadelphia and Vermont.
He is survived by his wife, The Rev. Virginia Campbell Thomas of Bakersfield, daughter Betsy Hart and her husband Alan of Bakersfield; two sons and their wives, Niel and Judith Thomas of Anchorage, AK, and Duncan and Nina Thomas of La Canada, CA; six grandchildren, Forrest Keelty and his wife Melissa, Paul Keelty and wife Regan, Shannon Keelty of Eugene, OR and Wilder, David and Dylan Thomas of Los Angeles, CA; four great grandchildren, sister-in-law Mrs. J. Duncan (Helen) Campbell of Stowe, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Besides his parents, he was predeceased by a son, Andrew Thomas, in 1952, brother Sandy Thomas, sister Bobby Norcross, two brothers-in-law, Hallock C. Campbell, J. Duncan Campbell and Duncans surviving spouse, Helen of Stowe.
Funeral services will be held at 11 AM Saturday March 8 at St. Matthews Episcopal Church, St., Enosburg Falls, VT with The Rev. Linda Maloney officiating. Interment will take place later at St. Asaphs Episcopal Church in Bala Cynwyd, PA.
For those who wish, contributions in Mr. Thomas memory may be made to St. Matthews Episcopal Church, c/o Amy Adams, treasurer, PO Box 276, Franklin Country Home Health Agency, 3 Home Health Cir., St Albans, VT 05478, or to St. Asaphs Episcopal Church, 27 Conshohocken State Rd., Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004.
Condolences may be sent to the family on-line through www.SpearsFuneralHome.com.
The family thanks Enosburg Ambulance Service, Northwest Medical Center of St. Albans and Spears Funeral Home for their exceptional service in the past week.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of R. David Thomas, please visit our flower store.
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