William J. “Bill” Thomas

William J. “Bill” Thomas was born on July 12, 1942, and passed away on November 4, 2026. He was the son of Eleanor and William Thomas of Philadelphia, beloved husband of Mary (née Willigan), loving father of Sarah Coppol (Bill) and William Jamison “Jamie” Thomas, and cherished “Papa” to his four grandchildren, Zach, Grace, Tommy, and Sophia.

 

Bill will be remembered for his humor, his love of art, and the special relationships he built throughout his life. He was an art professor at West Virginia University for many years and also ran the Creative Arts Center’s Saturday Art Program for children, for which he was well known. Through his teaching and his own artwork, he shared his love of creating with generations of students. He always encouraged everyone to use their imagination, both in art and in life.

 

His love of art became a special bond with his son, Jamie, who took up painting in college. With his daughter, Sarah, he shared a love of nature and animals. He had a unique and treasured relationship with each of his four grandchildren, who knew and loved him as Papa.

 

Together, Bill and Mary loved spending time with family and friends, traveling, and exploring new things. Family held an important place in Bill’s life from an early age. After his father passed away, he took on the role of a father figure to his younger siblings. He maintained a special bond with each of them: Cathy, Peggy, Mike, and Frannie.

 

Bill leaves his family and friends with memories of laughter, creativity, and time shared together. His presence will be deeply missed, and his stories, artwork, and humor will remain a lasting part of their lives.

 

Relatives and friends are invited to gather in remembrance of Bill on Saturday, November 14, 2026, with visitation from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at Craft Funeral Home, 814 Bethlehem Pike, Erdenheim, PA 19038. A memorial service will follow at 12:00 p.m. at the same funeral home.

 

Following the service, family and friends are warmly invited to a local restaurant for a reception with light refreshments and the opportunity to share memories of Bill. The restaurant location will be announced at the service. Private interment will take place on a separate day.

 

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Bill’s memory may be made to Special Equestrians Therapeutic Riding Center, a place he admired for the joy and support it brought his granddaughter Grace, who has autism. Even in his final months, Bill asked Sarah every day about their horse, Willow—whether Sarah, Grace, or Sophia had ridden her and, always, whether she was behaving. These daily conversations were a sweet reflection of his love for his family and his interest in the things that brought them happiness.

Donations: www.specialequestrians.org/donate