Obituary of John L. Thomas

John L. Thomas, 77, of Phoenixville, PA passed away on Monday May 21, 2018 in West Chester, PA. John was born in Palestine, now Israel, on January 15, 1941. He had been a resident of Pembrooke Health and Rehabilitation Center in West Chester for several years. Prior to that John lived in Phoenixville and Pottstown, Pa. He was the son of the late Luther & Nabiha ( Salameh ) Thomas of Jerusalem. He grew up in Palestine and graduated from Terra Sancta High School. He came to the United States in 1962 to attend college, receiving his bachelor degree in chemistry from St. John's University, Collegeville, Minnesota and his MBA from the University of Delaware at Newark. The family moved to Evanston, Illinois in 1974 when John began working for Quaker Oats in Chicago. Upon returning to Pennsylvania, John became the Director of Purchasing at Detra Flag Company, Oaks, PA and at the Annin Flag Company, Roseland, NJ. John and his wife, Suzanne Calhoun Thomas of Phoenixville were married 47 years ago on May 27, 1971 in St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Newark, Delaware. He became a United States citizen on September 18, 1972. While living in Phoenixville, John served as a Phoenixville borough councilman from 1993 to 1996 and Cub Master at St. Ann's Church. He enjoyed visiting flea markets and ballroom dancing. Surviving John are his Wife: Suzanne Thomas Phoenixville, PA, his son, John Christopher Thomas, husband of Kelly Leydig Thomas of West Chester, PA, and his son, David Alexander Thomas of Runnemede, NJ. He is also survived by two granddaughters, Ava Rian and Delaney Reese Thomas of West Chester, PA. A memorial service is planned for June 16, 2018 at St. John's United Church of Christ, 315 Gay Street, Phoenixville. Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to: St. John's United Church of Christ, Phoenixville, PA. John has been living in the Phoenixville area, formerly of Pottstown, Pa. He grew up in Palestine and moved to America to go to college.