OCEAN PINES — William Joseph Thomas, 79, died Saturday, Nov. 22, 2008, at Atlantic General Hospital in Berlin.
Born in Pittsburgh, he was the son of the late Stanley Thomas and Rose Marie “Anna” Matesich Thomas. He was preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth Anne O’Brien Thomas.
Mr. Thomas was a US Navy veteran, retiring after 24 years of service having achieved the rank of QMC. He served in both Korea and Vietnam. After retiring from the Navy, he went on to open Thomas Construction, which he owned and operated for 25 years.
He was a member of St. John Neumann Catholic Church, a former Grand Knight and District Deputy Navigator with Knights of Columbus, and a member of Boggs-Disharoon American Legion 153.
He is survived by two sons, Timothy Charles Thomas of Ocean Pines and Patrick Joseph Thomas of Ocean City; one brother, Jack C. Thomas and his wife, Dorie, of Arizona; two sisters, Rose Marie Thomas of Pittsburgh and Millie Mehilick of Nevada; three grandchildren, Jason, Nicole and Patrick Jr.; four great-grandchildren; one brother-in-law, Jerry O’Brien and his wife, Janet; several nieces and nephews.
A Mass of Christian burial was Wednesday at St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Ocean Pines. Interment will be private.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 11211 Beauchamp Road, Ocean Pines, Md. 21811 or to the American Cancer Society, c/o Gerri Harrison, 337 Winter Quarters Drive, Pocomoke City, Md. 21851.
Arrangements are by Burbage Funeral Home in Berlin.