Obituary of Walter Edwin Thomas, Jr.

Walter Edwin Thomas, Jr. of Boonton Township, NJ passed away December 17, 2011 at Morristown Medical Center, lovingly surrounded by his family. He was 70 years old. Walter was a devoted son, husband, father, and grandfather, and a loyal and generous friend. He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Judith (Herman) of Boonton Township and two daughters, Megan Elizabeth Thomas of Cohasset, MA and Amy Longson Thomas of Houston, TX. He is also survived by his mother Margaret Thomas of Denville, NJ, his two sisters Lois Grant of Rockaway Township, NJ and Dorothy Patterson of Greentown, PA, and his son-in-law Jeremy Rick of Houston, TX. Walter leaves behind two grandchildren Emma and Colin Humphrey of Cohasset, MA. Born in Kingston, PA on April 6, 1941, Walter lived in New Jersey most of his life. A graduate of Springfield College and Cornell School of Law, Walter was a practicing attorney in New Jersey for more than 30 years, as well as the owner of two liquor stores in New Jersey for 15 years. A graduate of Franklin High School, Franklin, PA, where he played football and basketball, Walter's love of high school sports continued into adulthood. He was an active fan of the Mountain Lakes, NJ, Herd football team, filming the games for team practice sessions for more than 20 years. Walter was a golfer, a sports fan, a history buff and an avid reader. He particularly enjoyed books about the Civil War, President Roosevelt and Winston Churchill. Walter lived with dignity and will be fondly remembered for his generosity, his loyalty, his quick wit and his unwavering sense of integrity. We are all invited to celebrate Walter's life at two viewings on Wednesday, December 21, 2011 from 2 - 4 & 7 - 9 PM at Mackey Funeral Home, (mackeyfh.com), 107 Essex Avenue, Boonton, NJ. The funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday in the funeral home. Interment will follow at Rockaway Valley Cemetery, Valley Rd., Boonton Township. Memorial contributions in Walter's name may be made to the Cancer Support Fund, Carol G. Simon Cancer Center, Attention: Gilbert Baez, Morristown Medical Center, 100 Madison Avenue, Morristown, NJ 07962. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home.