Obituary of J. Wilmer Thomas

J. Wilmer Thomas, 87, lifetime resident of Lititz, PA, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Tuesday morning, February 11, 2025 following a brief illness.  He was the son of the late Jacob Wilmer and Helen A. Brubaker Thomas.  Wilmer was the loving husband of Ruth J. Brubaker Thomas.  They would have been married for 57 years on March 3rd.

Family and church life were important to Wilmer.  He was an active member of Hammer Creek Mennonite Church where he was an adult Sunday School teacher for many years.  In his later years, he was involved in a prison ministry of writing encouraging letters to those incarcerated.  He possessed a tender heart to those who were hurting.

Wilmer was a 1955 graduate of Manheim Twp. High School.  From his childhood, he helped his family at Thomas Produce stand at Lancaster Central Market.  Eventually, he owned the stand and with his family, grew much of the produce on his family farm in Clay Twp.  In addition to produce, he raised livestock and crops.  In his younger years, he also was a rural mail carrier in the Lititz area.

Wilmer delighted in his family, treasured family reunions, enjoyed playing games and was competitive. In addition to attending travelogues at Warwick High School, he enjoyed reading non-fiction and often wrote poignant letters to the editor at LNP.  

In addition to his wife, he is survived by seven children, Yvonne Martin (Bob) of Lititz, Tressa Martin (the late Keith) of Chambersburg, Stephen Thomas (Nicole Sweigart) of Lititz, William Thomas (Rebecca Hurst) of Ephrata, James Thomas (Amanda Stoltzfus) of East Earl, Jonathan Thomas (Gretchen Mast) of Ephrata, and Daryl Thomas (Lindsay Horning) of Ephrata; 22 grandchildren; 22 great grandchildren.  He was also preceded in death by his three siblings, Mary Lou Stoltzfus, Glenn Thomas, and Joanne Mylin.

The family wishes to thank the staff at Fairmont Homes for their excellent care during his brief stay.

A viewing will be held Sunday afternoon, February 16, 2025 at 12:30 - 3:30 PM at Hammer Creek Mennonite Church, 590 Hammer Creek Road, Lititz, PA. A funeral service will follow at 4:00 pm. Interment in the adjoining cemetery will be private on Monday. If desired, contributions may be made in Wilmer's memory to Gospel Echoes Team Prison Ministries, PO Box 555, Goshen, IN 46527.  To watch a livestream of the service, visit https://hammercreekmennchurch.org/sermons/. To express a condolence with the family, visit www.spencefuneralservices.com.