Richard S. Thomas

Richard S. Thomas of Pottstown (formerly of Lansdale and Quakertown, PA), age 55, died from depression and suicide on April 21, 2017.

Richard is survived by his twin sister Bonnie Lynn Swaney of Albany OR, his brother Ken Gordon of Quakertown, PA, his brother Chuck Ramassini of Coopersburg, PA his sister Wendy Ann Miller of Byrans Road, MD, and his sister Debbie Spillane of CT.

He is preceded in death by his wife Janet Thomas of Lansdale PA, by our mother Gloria C. Shaffer of Quakertown PA, our Grandfather William Harner of Quakertown PA, our Grandfather George Gordon of Philadelphia PA, and our Grandmother Lilian Harner of Quakertown PA.

Richard was born on February 2, 1962. He graduated from Quakertown High School in 1980. He was a craftsman in wood work and machining fabrication.  Throughout his life, he held several machinist roles including a General Manager for a former machining company Howie Corp, and as a machinist at UKM in Harleysville, PA where he worked for five plus years. He enjoyed camping, computers, computer aided design, the Philadelphia Phillies and Eagles, Philly cheesesteaks, and beer.

He was extremely smart, talented, and loved. But our brother couldn’t see any of that because his depression created an impenetrable fortress that blocked the light, preventing the love of friends, his family, and any sense of comfort and confidence from reaching him. Depression lied to our brother, told him that he was worthless. Unlovable. Undeserving of life. After years of the lies and the torment, our brother believed that depression told him the truth. But, it was all a lie.

His family and friends will always remember him as someone who loved deeply, cared deeply, and whom we will always miss.

A scattering of his ashes ceremony will be held at the St. Paul Lutheran cemetery at our mother’s gravesite in Applebachsville, PA on Saturday April 29th at 1pm. All are welcome to attend.

The family would like to thank the Pottstown Police department, the Montgomery Coroner’s office, and Volpe Funeral Home for their compassion and assistance.

Please send contributions and donations to http://www.suicide.org/donate.html

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