Arthur William "Art" Thomas

Arthur (Art) William Thomas, 77, of Webster, NY, passed away peacefully on February 6, 2026, at Hildebrandt Hospice Center in Rochester, NY.

Calling hours will be held on Saturday, March 14, from 1:00–3:00 PM at Miller Funeral Home (3325 Winton Rd S), with a Memorial Service to follow at 3:00 PM, officiated by the Rev. Alan Dailey. A private, immediate family-only burial will take place at Canandaigua Lakeview Cemetery at a later date.

Art was born on May 8, 1948, in Johnson City, NY, the oldest child of Alfred Gerald Thomas and F. Esther Thompson. He graduated from SUNY Cortland with a Bachelor of Arts in History Education and later earned his Master of Science in Education from SUNY Brockport. While at SUNY Cortland, Art was a member of the Gamma Tau Sigma Fraternity.

Art began his teaching career in 1970 and spent 33 years educating students in a variety of middle and high school social studies classes in the Gates-Chili School District, retiring in 2003. While at Gates-Chili, he served as advisor to the Yorker Club and Mock Trial.

Dedicated to a life of service and helping others, Art taught citizenship classes, volunteered with CASA, served on the loan committee at the Gates-Chili Federal Credit Union, donated his rare blood type to the American Red Cross, and served in numerous roles as Elder at John Knox Presbyterian Church. In retirement, he assisted with providing tax services to those in need and visited individuals and school children with his beloved dog Snowball, offering comfort through pet therapy.

A lifelong student of history, Art had a special passion for Civil War battlefields, which he eagerly explored and shared with his children, turning family trips into living history lessons. He loved bringing history to life through stories, thoughtful discussion, and time spent together. He and his wife especially enjoyed their annual vacations to Maine. Art was also a devoted fan of the Buffalo Bills and the New York Yankees and held a special place in his heart for his six dogs: Snuffy, Mac, Samson, Yankee, Rascal, and Snowball.

Art is survived by Priscilla, his wife of nearly 55 years; his daughter Cheryl (Jim) Farnham; and his son Matthew (Denise) Thomas. He was a proud grandfather to five grandsons: Bradley, Nathan, and Jonathan Farnham, and William and Benjamin Thomas. He was predeceased by his parents and his siblings, James and AJ.

The family extends their sincere gratitude to the staff at Elderwood Village of Fairport and St. John's Home of Rochester for their compassionate care during Art's illness with vascular dementia. Special appreciation is extended to the extraordinary staff at

Hildebrandt Hospice Center, whose compassion, respect, and love brought comfort and peace during Art's final week.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites donations in Art's memory to organizations supporting history education and preservation, civic engagement, or service to others.