"It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat."
-Theodore Roosevelt

________________________________________________________________________________________________________

William Thomas passed away in the early morning hours of May 4th from Covid-19 at the age of 71.  He died peacefully in his sleep with his son and daughter-in-law holding his hand. William was the beloved husband of the late Martha Ann Thomas (nee McDowell) who preceded him in death in 2006 and father to the late William Adams Thomas III "Adam".

Born in Port Kennedy, PA, William lived in various cities across the U.S. before settling in Media, PA where he lived for nearly 30 years.  He attended Penn State University and held many different professional positions over the years. He began as a pipe stress engineer with TVA, worked as a computer programmer with Dupont and a car salesman with Pacifico Mazda.  He held various positions with the US Census Bureau and worked as a Health Insurance Agent with The Results Companies.

Mr. Thomas was very active politically which was his way of reaching further to make the world a better place. He volunteered as a Democratic Committeeperson in Upper Providence, PA Dist. 4. He was a candidate for School Board in 2001 and State House in 2002 and 2003.  This experience sparked his desire to assist candidates of all stripes and led to his consulting of various Democratic Candidates in Delaware and Chester Counties.

William longed for a kinder and compassionate world.  Inspired by his mother who served as a nurse in WWII, and his wife, Marty, whose nickname, "The Flower Lady" was fitting because she would give children in the neighborhood flowers to bring home to their parents to share smiles.  When William saw an overwhelmed mother at the supermarket, he'd comment "you have such a wonderful little helper with you" with a kind smile.  His light and authenticity spread easily to those around him.  Now he leaves his mission of spreading kindness and compassion, making the world a better place to us, asking us all to step up "into the arena" for ourselves.

In addition to his wife and son, William was preceded in death by his brother, Sam Thomas.  He is survived by his son, Ian Andrew Thomas (Rachel Benbow) who resides in Harrisburg, and his step-granddaughter, Indigo Artemis Dimitreas.  He's survived by his sisters and brothers-in-law, Ann Vanneman, Robert McDowell (Judith McDowell), Sheila McDowell (Richard Lechner), Audrey Eves (William Eves, Jr.), and Andrew McDowell (Debbie McDowell) along with nieces and nephews, Patrick McDowell, Christopher McDowell (Rebecca McDowell), Letitia Eves, William Eves III, and Grady McDowell, and great-nephew, Gus McDowell.

A Celebration of Life Ceremony will be Sunday May 22nd at 2:30pm located at Providence Friends Meetinghouse 105 N. Providence Road, Media, PA 19063.

Arrangements provided by Rigby Harting  & Hagan Funeral Home  15 E. 4th Street Media, PA 19063

www.haganfuneralhome.com