Thomas W. Balkcom

Thomas W. Balkcom, 103, of Wyomissing, died October 9, 2009 in the Highlands of Wyomissing.

He was the husband of Edna (Garrett) Balkcom who died in 1972. He later married Marion H. (Christman) Balkcom, who died in 2000.

Born in Newton, AL, he was a son of the late Dr. James W. and Mattie F. (Truett) Balkcom.

He was a 1927 graduate of Auburn University, earning a B.S. in Electrical Engineering. He also audited classes for 2 years at Columbia University.

Thomas was a dedicated worker and entrepreneur. He started as an engineer for Southern Bell, Birmingham, AL, then worked as a design engineer for Western Electric. He was a co-founder and vice president of Whitmoyer Laboratories, Inc., Myerstown as well as a co-founder of Whitmoyer Laboratories Limited in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. Later he co-founded Atlantic Fisheries Byproduct Association, Halifax, Nova Scotia and served as president there. Lastly, he was co-founder and vice president of Delmar Chemicals Limited, Montreal, Quebec.

Thomas was very proud of being a Rotarian and a member of Torch Club, Reading.

He is survived by his daughter, Doris B., widow of James D. Keen, New York, New York.

Also surviving is one granddaughter, Delprat A. "Sasha" Keen.

Services will be held Saturday at 11:30 a.m. at Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc., 739 West Reading. A viewing will be held from 10:30-11:00 a.m. and a visitation will be held from 11:00-11:30 a.m. Burial will be in Forest Hills Memorial Park, Exeter Township.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to either the Greater Berks Food Bank: 1011 Tuckerton CT., Reading, PA 19605 or to the Friends of Conrad Weiser Homestead: 28 Weiser Lane, Womelsdorf, PA 19567. Online condolences may be recorded at www.kuhnfuneralhome.com.