William Howard Thomas, 80, of Centre Hall died Tuesday, October 7, 2014 at Geisinger Medical Center.
He was born September 28, 1934 in Greensburg, PA, one of five children born to the late William Arthur and Eva May (Smith) Thomas. His loving wife of 26 years, Penne, survives at home.
Bill was a 1953 graduate of Tyrone High School, where he was the 165 pound champion, in the 1953 P.I.A.A. State Wrestling Championship. He was later inducted into the Tyrone Wrestling Hall of Fame and the District Six Wrestling Hall of Fame.
He was a graduate of Penn State University, where he was on the wrestling team for two years. He remained a life-long supporter of Penn State working at Beaver Stadium and Rec Hall during sporting events.
Bill began his career with the YMCA in 1958 holding positions of increasing responsibility in Niagara Falls, LaSalle, and Olean, NY. He was the Executive Director of the Olean YMCA for twelve years. In 2001 Bill was recognized by the 16th Annual Salute to Olean for his contributions and commitment to Olean, NY.
While working at the YMCA in Olean, he oversaw the installment of the first moveable swimming pool floor in North America. Bill changed career paths after seeing the potential need of the pool floors to help handicap individuals, and became CEO of AFW of North America selling moveable pool floors. He later founded his own company and became the sole representative for KBE of North America. Over the years, he contributed to Olympic venues with the placement of moveable swimming pool floors for the 1976 Montreal Olympics, the 1988 Seoul, South Korea Olympics and the 2010 Vancouver Olympics.
Above all his career accomplishments, Bill was a proud, hard-working, thoughtful, and generous man who most of all cherished time with his family. Bill enjoyed skiing, sailing, and all things Penn State. He took a genuine interest in everyone he met and will be dearly missed.
In addition to his wife he is survived by three children, Jamie Gregory (William) and their children Casey Nelson (Charlie), Colby Zitelli, Billy, and Christina Gregory; Heidi Friedrich (Brian) and their children, Emily, Brian and Jacob Friedrich; William “Bill” Thomas (Anne) and their children John Thomas and Karen Crang (Adam) and great-granddaughter Natalie; and their mother Ilomay Evelyn Liedeka (Thomas) who he married on September 1, 1956. He is survived by Penne’s children, Lee Kearly (Julie) and his children Jenna and Alyssa Kearly, Terri Sponaugle (Boyd) and their children, Elizabeth and Katie Sponaugle, and Kathy Kearly and her children Shannon and Kelly Joyce and Alexander Kearly (deceased). And, he is also survived by his siblings, John Thomas (Joan); Grace “Dimp” Thomas Renwick; Mary “Tommy” Thomas Gall; and Eva “Kathy” Thomas Quintern.
A Celebration of Life service will be held for Bill on November 8th at 2:00 pm with a reception following. The service will be held at the Penns Manor Community Center, 125 Penns Ct, Centre Hall, PA. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Bill’s name may be made to the Tyrone Wrestling Booster Club, 1101 Clay Ave, Tyrone, PA 16680 or the YMCA, 667 W. Whitehall Road, State College, PA 16801.