Joseph A. Thomas

Joseph A. Thomas, 86, died December 31, 2009 in his Reading residence.

His wife, Mary R. (Kozak) Thomas, died in 1991.

He is survived by his companion, Vera Whitehead, Green Hills.

Born in Reading, he was a son of the late Andrew and Elizabeth Thomas.

He was a graduate of Reading High School.

Joseph was employed for 39 years as a steel worker, working for Carpenter Technology, Reading, until his retirement in 1988.

He was a lifetime member of the Slovak Union.

Joseph was a member of St. Ignatius R.C. Church.

He was a U.S. Army veteran, serving in the Military Police in North Africa and Italy during WWII.

In addition to his companion, he is survived by his three children: James J., husband of Vanessa M. Thomas, Sinking Spring; Patricia M., wife of Harold R. Bordner, Mohrsville and Lauren J. Thomas, Radnor. He is also survived by his four grandchildren: Zachary E., Alexa T., Andrew J. and Sarah M.

He was predeceased by his brother, Andrew Thomas, and his sister Anna Pienta.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday at 11 a.m. in St. Ignatius R.C. Church, Sinking Spring. Burial will be in Gethsemane Cemetery. Friends may call Wednesday 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc., 739 Penn Ave., West Reading. Contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 25 Stevens Ave., West Lawn, PA 19609. Online condolences may be recorded at www.kuhnfuneralhome.com.