Obituary of Ralph S. Thomas

Ralph S. Thomas, Sr., died suddenly on December 14, 2014 of natural causes, at the age of 80. He was born on February 19, 1934 in Philadelphia, PA. He received his bachelor's degree at Penn State University. He enlisted into the US Navy, served in Naval Intelligence and retired at the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He was a brilliant and creative advertising executive for McCaffrey & McCall working out of New York City, developing many nationally recognized brands for large banking and energy companies. He met his wife of 52 years, Regina Harris Thomas, at a posh event in Spring Lake, New Jersey. They were married and resided in Boonton Township, New Jersey where they raised their three sons, Ralph II, Christopher, and Mark. After retiring from advertising in 1984, Ralph and Regina opened a successful Travel agency "Travelwide" in Denville, NJ. After Ralph's second retirement, they moved to Highland Beach, Florida, where they continued their love of extensive and worldwide travel, often cruising the world. Ralph also served in various positions on the Township of Boonton Committee from 1993 to 1996 and on the Board of Trustees for both Riverside and St. Clare's Hospitals. Ralph is survived by his loving wife Regina, son Ralph and wife Diana, of Parsippany, NJ, Son Mark and wife Judy of Boonton Twsp., NJ, his many loving grandchildren, and his sister Sandy MacMillian of Phoenix, Arizona. Ralph is predeceased by his son Christopher, his parents Anton and Helen Thomas, and his sister Victoria. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Catherine of Siena R.C. Church, 10 N. Pocono Road, Mountain Lakes, NJ on Monday, December 22, 2014 at 12:30 pm. Burial will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in East Hanover, NJ. Arrangements in NJ in care of the Codey & Mackey Funeral Home, Boonton, NJ. To share a memory or extend condolences, please visit www.codeymackeyfh.com. In lieu of flowers, donations will be gratefully accepted at Morris Catholic High School, in the name of The Christopher Harris Thomas memorial scholarship fund. The address is 200 Morris Avenue, Denville NJ 07834.