John A. Thomas, 75, of Willow Street, passed away after a brief illness on Tuesday, March 15, 2011. He was born in Lancaster and was the son of the late Anthony and Cecelia (Gable) Thomas. He is survived by his beloved step-mother, June Thomas.

John is survived by his wife, Henrietta (Holton) Thomas of forty three years. They were married on August 6, 1967.

John was a corporal with the US Army serving in Europe with the medical corps.

John's career began at Edward Hand Middle School as a teacher. He later decided to become a stockbroker and joined the firm of Hornblower & Weeks and retired from Smith Barney.

John was a graduate from J.P. McCaskey High School where he was the captain of the Varsity tennis team and played in the national championships. He attended Franklin & Marshall College, Temple University, and graduated from Millersville State University with a B.S. in Education.

He was a member of the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church and the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association Red Rose Chapter (AHEPA). He ran a AHEPA convention in Lancaster and also assisted at the annual Greek Food Bazaar.

John was an avid tennis and squash player and golfer in the Lancaster community. He taught many young athletes the game of tennis at Lancaster Country Club and at the various racquet clubs in Lancaster. John was very active in the squash program at the Hamilton Club from coaching to winning several titles.

He was a member of the Hamilton Club and was a current board member, a member of the Pirates Club which is an Association of Honorable Gentleman. He was a former member of the Jaycees, the Lancaster Sertoma Club, Conestoga Country Club, and the Lancaster Tennis & Yacht Club.

Surviving in addition to Henrietta, John is survived by his daughter, Luan Thomas-Brunkhorst, wife of Juergen of Long Prairie, MN, his sons, Howard C. Holton-Thomas, husband of Sara of Las Vegas, NV, John A. Thomas II, husband of Shona of Canton, GA, Anthony John Thomas, husband of Carissa of San Diego, CA, George John Thomas, husband of Mary of Windham, ME, seven grandchildren, a sister, Joan Rios of Elizabethtown, 3 half sisters, Joanne Gebhardt of Hershey, Kathy Tobias of Lancaster, Tina Alexander of Lancaster, a half brother, Fred C. Thomas of Millersville and many nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by his sister, Ruth Hoberg.

Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend a Celebration of Life Memorial Service on Saturday, March 19, 2011 at the Charles F. Snyder Jr. Funeral Home & Crematory 3110 Lititz Pk. at 11am with a Trisagion Service officiated by The Rev. Alexander Veronis. Friends may call to Snyder's from 10-11am. Military Honors will be rendered by the Red Rose Honor Guard at the funeral home. Interment will be private in Conestoga Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Milagro House 669 West Chestnut Street Lancaster, PA 17603. To send the family an online condolence, please visit SnyderFuneralHome.com. Charles F. Snyder Jr. Funeral Home & Crematory 717-560-5100