Joseph Burghard Thomas

THOMAS, JOSEPH BURGHARD, 92, passed away peacefully at his home in Heathrow Woods, Lake Mary, Florida, on August 27, 2007. He was born in Louisville, Kentucky on October 5, 1914. He lived in Palm Beach County from 1964 to 2001. He was the son of the late Dr. Ansel Leroy Thomas and Ruby Harriett Burghard Thomas of Louisville. Mr. Thomas attended Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, where he was a member of Alpha Tau Omega (ATO) National Fraternity. He was owner and president of the Weiffenbach Marble and Tile Company in Dayton, Ohio and retired at the age of 49 to move to Florida where he and his family had enjoyed many vacations throughout his lifetime. Many of these trips included Miami Beach during the 1950s and 60s creating life long memories. Mr. Thomas was the devoted husband of Mary Josephine Thomas, originally of Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, his wife of 59 years, who predeceased him in 1999. They were married on March 14, 1940 in Louisville. In 1942, Mr. Thomas served his country in World War II in Co. B, 173rd U.S. Army Engineers Combat Battalion in the Pacific Theater. He was in one of the first waves of the invasion of the Philippines and served in Okinawa, Leyte Gulf, and the occupation of Korea. After WWII, the Thomases continued to live in Dayton where their daughter, Sandra Ann Thomas, was born. In 1964, Mr. Thomas and his family moved to Gulf Stream, Florida, near Delray Beach. In 2001, Mr. Thomas and his daughter, Sandra, moved to Heathrow Woods in Lake Mary, Florida, just north of Orlando. Because of his wife's death due to hereditary hemochromatosis, also known as iron overload disease, he will be remembered most for being an activist for genetic screening and public awareness for this disease. He was the major benefactor of the American Hemochromatosis Society (AHS) which his daughter, Sandra, founded in 1998 in honor of her mother. The non-profit organization has helped countless victims of this genetic disease around the country and world. (www.americanhs.org) He is survived by close family friend, David Geise Snyder, and his devoted and loving daughter, Sandra Ann, who cared for him at home during the last eight years of his life. Known for his great sense of humor and contagious laughter, he brought warmth and caring to all who knew him. He was a father who was always there for his daughter, without exception, and was a steadfast and devoted husband. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him. A Memorial Service was held at Holy Cross Lutheran Church on September 1st, 2007 in Lake Mary, Florida. Memorial donations may be sent to the American Hemochromatosis Society, 4044 West Lake Mary Blvd., #104, PMB 416, Lake Mary, Florida 32746-2012 U.S.A. or through the website at: www.americanhs.org or call 407-829-4488. Personal condolences may be sent to the Thomas family at the same address. Baldwin-Fairchild Funeral Homes of Orlando, Florida and Arch L. Heady at Resthaven in Louisville, Kentucky are in charge of arrangements. A private funeral service will be held at Resthaven Memorial Park in Louisville, Kentucky where he will be entombed next to his late wife, Josephine, in the Chapel of the Good Shepherd. To visit this Guest Book Online, go to www.MiamiHerald.com/obituaries.