John R. Myles Thomas

John Thomas, 87, of Delmar, MD died Sunday, January 29, 2012 at Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury. Mr. Thomas, a native of Liverpool, England, came to the United States as a child. He was formerly of Niagara Falls, NY, College Park, MD and Laurel, DE. He attended public schools in Niagara Falls and earned his associate degree from the University of Wisconsin, USAFI. During WWII he served in combat with the 34th and 350th Infantry Divisions in Africa and Italy respectively, obtaining the rank of Platoon Sgt. When he returned from the service, John worked in the advertising department of the Niagara Falls Gazette and subsequently was employed as advertising manager of the following newspapers: The Tonawanda NY Evening News; The Chester PA Times, The Paterson NJ Morning Call and The Evening Capital in Annapolis, MD. After leaving the Evening Capital Newspapers, he began his own business, The Weekender, which he published for 20 years in the Washington, DC area. After selling that publication, he published a weekly newspaper called the Town and Country Post in Accomac, VA. In 1979 he began publishing The Eastern Shore Showcase Real Estate Magazine that covered Delmarva, which he later sold. He then formed a company called Capital Marketing in College Park, MD, which he prepared and distributed direct mail advertising. He sold that business in 1991 and retired to Laurel, DE, later moving to Delmar, MD. For a while he worked for his son, Dan, assisting him with the publication of The Blue Hen Mailer. He then started and published the Delmar Bee, a coupon advertiser and was running a Bench Advertising business at the time of his death. John possessed a very strong work ethic. He was a life-long Episcopalian and a member of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Laurel, where he served as editor of their newsletter for a time and was a member of the choir. He was a former Laurel Lion, member of the Eastern Shore Sailing Association, Save the Bay Foundation and the Salisbury YMCA. His hobbies were sailing, gardening and traveling. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Valerie Thomas; a son, John Michael Thomas; his parents, Camilla and Oswald Thomas; a sister, Mary Dell and a dear grandson, Jason Taylor. He is survived and will be sadly missed by his loving wife of 62 years, Margaret, of Delmar; 3 sons, Stephen Thomas and his wife Judie, of Willis Wharf, VA, Paul Thomas and his wife, Linda of Delmar, and Daniel Thomas of Delmar; 2 daughters, Janet Taylor and her husband, Vince of Cashville, VA and Pam Schertz and her husband, Steve of Salisbury; daughter-in-law, Diane Thomas of Damascus, MD; 11 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren. A visitation for family and friends will be held on Friday, February 3, 2012 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Short Funeral Home in Delmar. A Holy Eucharist Memorial Service will be celebrated Saturday, February 4, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Laurel. His remains will be cremated according to his wishes. Family and friends are invited to join the family in the parish hall of the church following the service for a time of food and fellowship. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made in his memory to St. Philip’s Church, 600 S. Central Avenue, Laurel, DE 19956. Arrangements are being handled by Short Funeral Home of Delmar. To send online condolences to the family, please visit www.shortfh.com.

John R. Myles Thomas

August 14, 1924 - January 29, 2012