John Preston Thomas, 80, of Houston, died peacefully Saturday, June 24, 2017.

He was born January 26, 1937 in Canonsburg, a son of the late Anthony J. and Helen Donnelly Thomas.

Mr. Thomas was a lifelong area resident and a member of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church, Meadowlands, where in the past was Eucharistic Minister, Lector, Sunday School teacher, and past member of the Men’s Holy Name Society. He and his wife were coordinators and greatly involved in the Washington Area Parkinson’s Support Group.

He graduated from Immaculate Conception High School in 1955. He was a United States Navy Veteran, proudly serving his country as a Submariner from 1956 until 1960. In 1960, he began working for Columbia Gas until his retirement in 1992, where he was a plant supervisor.

He was an avid hunter, fisherman and a Pittsburgh sport’s fan. He loved to travel and vacation with his family.

On September 24, 1960 in St. Patrick’s Church in Canonsburg, he married Patricia L. Markle who died May 28, 2007.

Surviving are his four children Paula (Mark Bash) of Houston, Patsy (Robert) Brown of Canonsburg, John (Nelly) of Robbinsville, NJ, and Mark A. (Renee) of Canonsburg; six grandchildren, Nicholas and Alexandra Brown of Canonsburg, Corey and Ty Thomas of Robbinsville, NJ, and Jenna and Jack Thomas of Canonsburg; two brothers, Anthony (Jane) Thomas and Ted (Shirley) Thomas of Canonsburg and many nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents and his wife, he was preceded in death by one brother Robert Thomas and four sisters, Carmella Hartman, Shirley Ann Clifton, Betty Shannon, and Helen Orcutt.

Friends will be received from Tuesday, 6-8 PM, and Wednesday, 2-4 and 6-8pm, in the Sollon Funeral Home, LTD, 30 East College Street, Canonsburg. Departing prayers will be held in the funeral home, Thursday, at 9:30 am, followed by a Mass of Christian burial at 10 AM Thursday, in Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Church, in Meadowlands. Interment will follow in St. Patrick’s Cemetery, Canonsburg, with full military rites accorded by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 191 Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Parish.

Please visit www.sollon.com for additional information and to leave online condolences.

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