Obituary for Edward W. Thomas
Edward W. Thomas, 90, passed away on Sunday, August 14, 2022, at the Graystone Manor, Altoona.
He was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, son of the late Edward F. and Martha (Wherry) Thomas, of Tyrone, PA.
He is survived by his wife of sixty-nine years Doris E. (Claar) and son Edward M. (Dawn) of Marysville. Ed is also survived by nieces: Mary Sue Moore and Catharine Thomas; grand-nieces Sally Beth Topal, Kelly Burmeire, Jennifer Dumas and grand-nephew Dan Moore.
Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother Samuel Dee and sister Jennifer McGraw.
Ed graduated from Tyrone Area High School in 1950. Following graduation he attended RCA Institute NYC, then enlisted in the US Air Force, serving eight and a half years where he did extensive classified work in nuclear instrumentation.
Prior to retirement in 1989 from AT&T Bell Labs as a Member of the Technical Staff. He contributed to the design and development of the radiation experiments for Telstar and Relay satellites, designed circuits and participated in the testing, calibration and integration of the experiments into the satellites. He participated in the design of an experiment for Project SERB (study of the Enhanced Radiation Belt) and designed the electronics for this experiment, then participated in the launch of the project satellite, Explorer XV. He has conducted experiments to aid in a more precise understanding of the Telstar and Explorer XV results, as well as in the planning of experiments and instruments for future space radiation studies.
During his career Ed also worked for Intertechnique S.A. in Plaisir, France where he designed biomedical Instrumentation.
Ed was a senior member of IEEE and was elected to serve on the Governing Board of the IEEE Computer Society.
He was chairman of the “1980 International Test Conference” and continued on the Steering Committee thru 1989.
Also, he was active in many “Test Technology” IEEE Computer Society projects.
Ed has been granted eleven U.S. patents and five French patents.
Ed’s family is deeply appreciative of the expert, compassionate care provided by Kindred Hospice, the staff at Graystone Manor and Caregiver Donna Koller.
The magnitude of Ed’s accomplishments is only exceeded by his steadfast humility and compassion for others. He sought to see the best in each person he encountered.
By Ed’s request there will be no calling hours or funeral service.
Cremation has been entrusted to The Good Funeral Home.
He was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, son of the late Edward F. and Martha (Wherry) Thomas, of Tyrone, PA.
He is survived by his wife of sixty-nine years Doris E. (Claar) and son Edward M. (Dawn) of Marysville. Ed is also survived by nieces: Mary Sue Moore and Catharine Thomas; grand-nieces Sally Beth Topal, Kelly Burmeire, Jennifer Dumas and grand-nephew Dan Moore.
Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother Samuel Dee and sister Jennifer McGraw.
Ed graduated from Tyrone Area High School in 1950. Following graduation he attended RCA Institute NYC, then enlisted in the US Air Force, serving eight and a half years where he did extensive classified work in nuclear instrumentation.
Prior to retirement in 1989 from AT&T Bell Labs as a Member of the Technical Staff. He contributed to the design and development of the radiation experiments for Telstar and Relay satellites, designed circuits and participated in the testing, calibration and integration of the experiments into the satellites. He participated in the design of an experiment for Project SERB (study of the Enhanced Radiation Belt) and designed the electronics for this experiment, then participated in the launch of the project satellite, Explorer XV. He has conducted experiments to aid in a more precise understanding of the Telstar and Explorer XV results, as well as in the planning of experiments and instruments for future space radiation studies.
During his career Ed also worked for Intertechnique S.A. in Plaisir, France where he designed biomedical Instrumentation.
Ed was a senior member of IEEE and was elected to serve on the Governing Board of the IEEE Computer Society.
He was chairman of the “1980 International Test Conference” and continued on the Steering Committee thru 1989.
Also, he was active in many “Test Technology” IEEE Computer Society projects.
Ed has been granted eleven U.S. patents and five French patents.
Ed’s family is deeply appreciative of the expert, compassionate care provided by Kindred Hospice, the staff at Graystone Manor and Caregiver Donna Koller.
The magnitude of Ed’s accomplishments is only exceeded by his steadfast humility and compassion for others. He sought to see the best in each person he encountered.
By Ed’s request there will be no calling hours or funeral service.
Cremation has been entrusted to The Good Funeral Home.