Harold Arthur “Hat” Thomas
Harold Arthur “Hat” Thomas, 80, of Prosperity, died Monday, June 30, 2014, in Washington Hospital.
He was born December 15, 1933, in Nineveh, a son of Alonzo Thomas and Ida Belle Kahlbaugh Thomas.
Mr. Thomas was a veteran of the U.S. Army. During his service from 1956-1958, he was stationed at Fort Knox for 14 months and Germany for several months.
He was employed at Jessop Steel, where he worked in many capacities, including as a rigger, before retiring from the blacksmith shop.
Mr. Thomas was a member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church and attended Bates Fork Baptist Church in Sycamore.
He loved training horses throughout his life and was founder of the Flying Mane and Tail Saddle Club in Prosperity.
His wife, Mildred Louise Polen, died April 25, 2009.
Surviving are three daughters, Vanessa (Jim) Beatty of Prosperity, Melanie Finney of Ten Mile and Melissa (Ed) Szygenda of East Finley; a brother, William Paul Thomas of Prosperity; a sister, Martha Jane Knestrick of Waynesburg; seven grandchildren, Shane (Emma) Beatty, Joshua Finney, Jacob Finney, Derek Szygenda, Sheena Beatty, Cheyanne Finney and Rainey Szygenda; and a great-grandchild, Jade Beatty.
Deceased, in addition to his wife and parents, are a daughter, Valerie L. Thomas; two sisters, Shirley Thomas and Dorothy Kreston; a brother, Donald Thomas; and a stepbrother, Roy Temple.
Friends will be received from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday and 10 to 11 a.m., the time of service, Saturday, July 5, in William G. Neal Funeral Homes Ltd., 925 Allison Avenue, Washington, with Pastor Cristy Wise officiating. Burial will follow in Prosperity Cemetery. There will be no visitation in the funeral home Friday. Military rites will be accorded graveside by American Legion Edwin Scott Linton Post 175.
Memorial donations may be made to Pathways of Southwestern Pennsylvania, 655 Jefferson Avenue, Washington, PA 15301.
Additional information and a guest book are available at www.NealFuneralHome.com.