Thomas A. Willson

Thomas A. Willson, III, 87, of Cumru Township, died July 14, 2011 in The Highlands at Wyomissing.

He was the husband of Lucia K. (Kessler) Willson.

Born in Reading, he was a son of the late Thomas A. Willson, II and Dorothy (Fink) Reiser.

He was a graduate of Valley Forge Military Academy Junior College and attended Virginia Tech.

Tom was the Vice President of Operations of Willson Safety Products, Reading. He was also the former Industrial Sales Manager of Ray O Vac, the former Director of the Aviation Sales Division of the Glidden Company, the former East Coast Sales Manager of Maxima Technologies division of Actuant Company and the former Sales and Marketing Consultant to the panel Instrument Industry.

He was the past Vice President of the Sales Executive Club, past President of the Aviation Manufactures and Distributor Association, a former member of the Reading Stadium Commission, former member of Reading Municipal Airport Authority, member of the Berkshire Country Club, former Senior Executive for the Reading Air Shows, an honorary member of the US Thunderbird Aerial Demonstration Team, member of the Washington Library Society, member of the Quiet Birdmen and former chairman of the Cumru Township Zoning Hearing Board.

Tom was a tour guide at GoggleWorks, located in the historic Willson Products building, and took great pride in the Willson Exhibit.

He was a U.S. Army Veteran, serving in the Corps of Engineers of the 95th Infantry Division during WWII in Europe and was awarded a Bronze Star.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his son, Thomas A., IV, husband of Mary Beth Willson, Roswell, GA; his daughter, Barbara W., widow of Robert D. Miller, Moorestown, NJ and his step-son, Christopher M. Brumbach, Shillington. Also surviving are his brother, John W., husband of Patricia Willson, Dallas, TX; his sister, Lilian W., widow of Charles Carson, Palm City, Fl and four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

A Memorial Service will be Tuesday at 11 a.m. in the Edward J. Kuhn Funeral Home, Inc., 739 Penn Ave., West Reading. A visitation will be 10 to 11 a.m. in the funeral home. Burial will be in Charles Evans Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to GoggleWorks, 201 Washington St., Reading, PA 19601. Online condolences may be recorded at www.kuhnfuneralhome.com.