Gale W. Thomas of Lamor Road, Hermitage, passed away peacefully at 10:45 p.m. Tuesday (7-9-13) in Countryside Convalescent Home, East Lackawannock Township. He was 88. Mr. Thomas was born Aug. 9, 1924, in Blaine City, Clearfield County, one of six children born to Adie E. and Agnes Phfister Thomas. After graduating from high school, he attended the University of Chicago. A decorated veteran of the Navy, Mr. Thomas served during World War II and was honorably discharged on April 19, 1946, with an American Theater Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Medal with six Bronze Stars, the Philippine Liberation Ribbon with two Bronze Stars, and ultimately, the World War II Victory Medal. He moved to the Shenango Valley in 1951 and gained employment with the former Sawhill Tubular Co., Wheatland, retiring in 1990 as a supervisor with 40 years of service. Gale was the secretary treasurer of the Sawhill Retirees Association and, in years past, golfed with the Sawhill golf league. A Free and Accepted Mason, he belonged to the former Lodge 250 in Sharon; and currently belonged to Kedron Lodge 389 in West Middlesex and Scottish Rite's Valley of New Castle Consistory. He was a longtime member of First Presbyterian Church, Sharpsville. He recently reminisced with his family about his cross country camping trips that they all enjoyed in years past. Gale was a familiar face at the ballfield for many years in Sharon, having coached both T-ball and Little League. His wife, Pauline Thomas, whom he married April 21, 1951, passed away June 20 of this year. He leaves his two daughters, Patricia Bobbie, Hermitage; and Darlene Harper, Mountain View, Calif.; three sons, Edward Thomas and his wife Joyce, Hermitage; James Thomas, Lakeland, Fla.; and Bill Thomas and his wife Dawn, Pittsburgh; and 11 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. Besides his wife, he was preceded in death by his parents; his five siblings, Florence Krumpfl, Geneva DePanfilis, Ruth Corby and Guy and Clyde Thomas; and recently, by his grandson, Sean Michael Bobbie, on June 24. Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to American Cancer Society, 3208 B Wilmington Road, Box 5037, New Castle, PA 16105; or American Heart Association, 840 Southwestern Run, Youngstown, OH 44514. Calling hours: 4 to 7 p.m. Friday (7-12-13) in J. BRADLEY McGONIGLE FUNERAL HOME and CREMATORY Inc., 1090 E. State St., Sharon, with a Masonic memorial service at 6:45 p.m. Service: Funeral service at 11 a.m. Saturday (7-13-13) in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. M. Robbie Arnold, pastor of First Presbyterian Church, Sharpsville, officiating. Full military honors will be rendered by the West Middlesex VFW Post 6233 and the Wheatland American Legion Post 432 Honor Guard at 10:45 a.m. prior to his funeral service. Interment: Oakwood Cemetery,Hermitage.