Louis R. Thomas

Louis R. Thomas, Jr., of New Holland, aged 70, passed away in the company of his family on July 20th, 2014. His is survived by his wife of 48 years, Sheila Thomas, daughter Melissa Thomas-Van Gundy and son-in-law Doug Van Gundy of Elkins, WV; son Matt Thomas and daughter-in-law Elizabeth Stoudt of Adamstown, PA. He is also survived by his sister Linda Beach and her children, Linda Sue Beachy and Thomas Beach, of West Jefferson, OH.

Lou was retired from Case-New Holland, where he worked for many years as a design engineer. His work took him to Belgium in the early 1980s, kindling a love for that place that lasted the rest of his life; he returned there often for both work and pleasure.

A graduate of The Ohio State University, Lou was an enthusiastic follower of Buckeye football and loved the marching band. He was known and loved for his sense of humor, his generosity, his spectacular asparagus patch, and the dizzying array of homemade candies that he made with his family each Thanksgiving. In his retirement, he could frequently be found at the family condo in Fenwick Island, DE, where he enjoyed trying all of the sushi, mussels and crabs available up and down the Delaware coast.

While there will be no funeral service, a celebration of Lou’s life is being planned. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that friends performs random acts of kindness in his memory, and raise a cool glass in his honor. Memorial donations may be made to the Lancaster Farmland Trust. Online condolences may be posted at www.groffeckenroth.com.