Mr. Richard J. Thomas

April 18, 1931 - February 6, 2015

Mr. Richard J. Thomas, 83, of Cortland , passed away, Friday February 6, 2015 at his home. Born, April 18, 1931 in Cortland, Dick was the son of Clyde and Dorothy Stevens Thomas and was a Cortland resident his entire life. Dick was a devout catholic and daily communicant of St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church. He had retired from Monarch Machine and Tool in Cortlandville and was previously employed by Brockway Motors where he was very proud to work alongside his father. Dick loved Model Aircrafts and collected and flew them for many years. He was a member of the Cortland Aeromodeling Society. He is survived by a son, Paul (Julie) Thomas of Cortland as well as his other children, Richard and Lynn Thomas; four sisters, Marceline Moore and Geraldine (Fred) Latimer both of Cortland, Cynthia Petrella of Groton and Sr. Carla Thomas of Boston, Mass., and a granddaughter, Mataya. In addition to his parents, Dick was preceded in death by a brother, Robert Thomas. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday at 10 a.m. in St. Mary's Roman Catholic Church with Rev. Joseph Zareski serving as celebrant. Prayers of committal will follow in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery. The family will be present to receive friends on Wednesday from 4 p.m.- 7 p.m. in the Riccardi Funeral Chapel 69 N. Main St., Cortland. Contributions in Dick's memory may be made to St. Mary's Church 59 N. Main St. Cortland, N.Y. 13045.