Hon. P. Richard Thomas

Hon. P. Richard Thomas, 91, of Meadville died Wednesday, August 31, 2011 at Wesbury United Methodist Community.

He was born in Meadville August 13, 1920 a son of Paul E. and Clarissa Smith Thomas.  He married Josephine Ingraham December 28, 1946 and she preceded him in death September 24, 1993.  He subsequently married Rosemary A. Davidson Nicholson December 30, 1995 and she survives.

He was President Judge of the Courts of Crawford County from 1964 until his retirement on August 11, 1990.  He then became a Senior Judge sitting by assignment of the Supreme Court throughout western Pennsylvania for several years.  His career started in Meadville practicing law with his father in September 1948 with Thomas & Thomas Law Firm.  He was appointed Crawford County Assistant District Attorney in 1949 and was then elected Crawford County District Attorney in 1955 serving until his appointment to the bench by Gov. William W. Scranton in 1963.

He was a 1938 graduate of Meadville High School, received his B.A. degree in 1942 from Cornell University and his L.L.B. degree in 1948 from Dickinson School of Law.  He was also a graduate of the first session of the National Judicial College at the Univ. of Colorado at Boulder in July 1964 and a special session on alcohol-drug offenders in 1980.

He was a veteran of World War II serving as a 1st Lieutenant in the 999th Field Artillery Battalion in Europe.  He participated in five battle campaigns and received the Bronze Star.  He was a life-long member of the First Presbyterian Church and served on the Board of Directors and Vice President of the Crawford County Historical Society, Meadville Downtown Steering Committee, Meadville Historic District Committee; a trustee of the Winslow Trust; director of the Western Crawford County United Way, Meadville Bicentennial Committee, National Council for the Future of the National Judicial College, Northwest PA Rail Authority 1993-1997 and the Academy Theater Board of Directors from 1990-1997.

He was also a Past President of the District Attorney’s Association of Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania Conference of State Trial Judges and served on the Governor’s Task Force on DUI Law Revision in 1981-1982.

He was a member of the Meadville Eagles Club, Meadville Round Table, the Boots and Saddle Club, the Country Club and the Iroquois Boating and Fishing Club.  He helped establish the Meadville Area Red Cross Blood Program in the 1950’s and the Juvenile Court “Friends” Program in 1971.  He volunteered with various community fund drives over the years and in his retirement he taught at the Crawford County READ Program for several years.

He was an animal lover, enjoyed gardening, was known for his begonias and was an avid and excellent golfer winning the Meadville Country Club Golf Championship 11 times from 1939-1969, winning the Senior Club Championship 14 times and shooting his age in golf 73 times by the age of 80.

Survivors, in addition to his wife Rosemary, include: two daughters, Sally Pedon and her husband Felix of Columbus, OH and Carrie Farrington and her husband David of Shohola, PA; a son, David Thomas and his wife Susan of Meadville; three step-sons, Kevin Nicholson of Meadville, Brian Nicholson of Conneaut Lake and Jeffrey Nicholson of Meadville; a step-daughter, Kathy Mahon and her husband Daniel of Wexford; six grandchildren, Ryan Pedon and his wife Stephanie, Amy Pedon and her fiancée Reggie Kremer, Hannah Farrington, Kate Farrington, Sarah Thomas and Rick Thomas; three step-grandchildren, Claire Nicholson, Shea Mahon and Delainey Mahon and nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents and first wife, he was preceded in death by a brother, Frank J. (Jack) Thomas and a step-son, Mark Nicholson.

The memorial service will be Saturday at 11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 890 Liberty Street, Meadville with the Rev. Dr. Brian K. Jensen, Pastor, officiating.

Private family interment with military honors provided by Harm Jan Huidekoper VFW Post #2006 will be in Roselawn Memorial Gardens.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to the Crawford County Historical Society, 411 Chestnut Street, Meadville, PA 16335, the Meadville Bulldog Hockey, P.O. Box 318, Meadville, PA 16335, The Alzheimer’s Association of N/W PA, 1128 State Street, Suite 301, Erie, PA 16501 or the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, UPMC Montefiore, 4th Floor, Suite 421, Pittsburgh, PA 15213.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Robert W. Waid Funeral Home, Inc., 581 Chestnut Street, Meadville.

Memories and condolences may be shared at waidfuneralhome.net.