Thomas Whitlatch Sr

Thomas H. Whitlatch, Sr., 85, of West Finley (Richhill Twp.) Greene Co., Pa. died at 9:3 p.m. Wednesday, February 13, 2008 in the Rolling Meadows Nursing Home, Waynesburg Pa. after being in failing health since 1999. He was born September 25, 1922 in Beallsville, Ohio a son of Charles Ambrose and Grace Ardella Parson Whitlatch and had been a resident of Richhill Twp. for most of his life. He had resided in Waynesburg for ten years prior to returning to Richhill Twp. in 1999. Mr. Whitlatch attended the Crabapple Community Church and was a member of Gideons of Greene County and Gideons International. He was WWII veteran of the U.S. Army where he served as a PFC Surgical Technician with the Medical Detachment 742nd Field Artillery Battalion and was awarded the Good Conduct, American Theater Service, Victory Metals and the Europe-Asian Theater Service Medal with 2 bronze stars. He was a member and quartermaster of the former Wind Ridge VFW Post 267, a member of the former American Legion Post 416 of Wind Ridge and a life member of the V.F.W. Post 4793 of Waynesburg. Mr. Whitlatch was a self employed dairy and beef farmer until the middle of the 1970s and served as the Justice of the Peace for Richhill Twp. during the 1960s. He was a former salesman with Fuller Brush Company and Watkins Products. He was a former Avon representative and received several trophies for his Friendly Home and Avon Parties. He was formerly employed as a Salesman for Kaeser and Blair Advertising for over 40 years and J.C. Penney Co. in Washington. He was a former security guard for West Greene High School and was a former salesman and stone setter for Stewart Granite Works in Mannington, W. Va. He was employed as a bus mechanic and driver for the former Coffield and Carroll Garage in Graysville for over 25 years and he was last employed as a Notary Public for over 40 years. He was a former manager of the Greene County Fairgrounds Flea Market for 10 years and the Farm and Flea Market for over 5 years. He was married to Mary Rose Mayhle Whitlatch who died on August 11, 2002. Surviving are three sons, Charles E., husband of Patricia Whitlatch, with whom he resided from 1999 until 2005, Donald R., husband of Debbie Whitlatch of Graysville, and William H., husband of Kathy Whitlatch of Sycamore; one daughter, Judith, wife of David Higgenbotham of Waynesburg; four brothers, Charles A. Whitlatch, Jr, of Martins Ferry, Oh.;, Samuel R. Whitlatch of Yuma, Arizona, W. Jack Whitlatch of Graysville and Henry A. "PeeWee" Whitlatch of Wind Ridge; two sisters, Pansy Brooks of Powhatton, Ohio and Mary Ann Neely of Cameron, W.Va.; nineteen grandchildren, several great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Deceased in addition to his wife are two sons, Thomas H. Whitlatch, Jr. and Robert Paul Whitlatch; one grandson, Terry Lee Whitlatch; one brother, Francis E, "Popeye" Whitlatch ; one sister, Pearl Eileen Whitlatch.