CUMBERLAND — Richard “Dick” Donald Thomas, 81, of Cumberland, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2009 at the WMHS-Memorial Campus.

Born July 11, 1928 in Warren, Ohio, Mr. Thomas was the son of the late Joseph Carl (Timberlake) Thomas Sr., and Maude Eleanor (Stephens) Thomas. He was also preceded in death by a son, Benjamin Joseph Thomas, April 13, 2005; an infant son, Donald David Thomas; three brothers; three sisters; and was the last surviving member of his immediate family.

Dick began a career at the B&O; Railroad at the age of 14 and retired from CSX as Yardmaster. He was an outdoorsman for most of his life. Dick was an avid golfer and made a newsworthy hole-in-one at the Four Sisters Golf Course in the mid 1990’s. He was lovingly devoted to his wife, Virginia. Dick was also a kind, gentle, and loving man to his children and anyone he met. He and his wife loved to work in their yard tending the garden and flowers every chance they had. Dick also loved and cared for all animals alike especially his pets. He loved to feed the birds daily and in the past was a master falconer with Ben’s red-tailed hawk, Mara.

Anyone who has ever met Dick said what a kind and gentle soul he had and would not hesitate to give you the shirt from his back. No matter what the situation his family faced, he had them laughing through it. Dick will be forever remembered and missed by all of those who knew him especially his devoted family and dear friends.

Dick was a devoted husband to his wife Virginia for all those years and always contests it was “love at first sight” and that love never faltered.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Virginia Catherine (Whetzel) Thomas; his son, Ronald Richard Thomas, Cumberland; his daughter, Brenda Sue (Thomas) Justice and husband, Robert, Millersville; his grandchildren, Symon Gabriel Justice and wife, Tiffany (Shorter) Justice, Hallthorpe, Atalie Day Justice-Brown and husband, Jared Stephen Brown, Pasadena and Wyatt Samuel Ashby, Cumberland; his great-grandson, Ezra Jared Brown, Pasadena; as well as numerous nieces and nephews throughout the country.

A memorial service and interment will be announced at a later date.

A special thanks to all of the doctors who cared for him throughout his long fight with Parkinson’s disease.

The Adams Family Funeral Home, P.A., 404 Decatur St., Cumberland, MD, AdamsFamilyFuneralHome.com is in charge of the arrangements.