Clarksburg Native who was Veteran, Educator for Over 30 Years, Arts Advocate, Dr. C.R. Thomas, Passes
By Connect-Bridgeport Staff on September 25, 2023
Dr. C. R. (Charles/Chuck) Thomas, 84, passed away peacefully in Groveport, OH on September 20, 2023.
Chuck was born in Clarksburg, WV on October 4, 1938 and comes from a working class background of Scottish coal miners and glass cutters. He graduated from Washington Irving High School in 1956, and he was often fond of saying that he never achieved a grade of A in high school, except for his gym classes.
He entered the U.S. Marine Corp immediately following graduation and earned the rank of Buck Sergeant in less than 2 years before being 
honorably discharged in 1958. Chuck enrolled at West Virginia University and completed his undergraduate degree in American Literature in 3 years while simultaneously working 3 grunt jobs to pay his way through college. He went on to earn a total of 5 college degrees: an A. B. in American Literature, an A. M. in English Literature, an M. S. Ed. in Special Education, an Ed. D. in Education Administration, and a summa cum laude B. S. in Finance and Economics. He was pursuing a sixth undergraduate degree in Theatre.
honorably discharged in 1958. Chuck enrolled at West Virginia University and completed his undergraduate degree in American Literature in 3 years while simultaneously working 3 grunt jobs to pay his way through college. He went on to earn a total of 5 college degrees: an A. B. in American Literature, an A. M. in English Literature, an M. S. Ed. in Special Education, an Ed. D. in Education Administration, and a summa cum laude B. S. in Finance and Economics. He was pursuing a sixth undergraduate degree in Theatre.
Chuck began his college teaching career in 1965 at what was then California State College in Western PA, now called Penn West University. During his 30+ years of teaching there he taught various courses in the English department and authored two textbooks for business writing. Chuck served seven 2-year terms as the elected faculty union president and official faculty spokesperson. In mid-career, the Commonwealth of PA presented Chuck a “Distinguished Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching.”
In the mid-seventies he managed a group of professors who taught undergraduate courses to the management team at Westinghouse Electric in Pittsburgh where they were recognized in the Wall Street Journal and other business publications. After retirement in 2002 Chuck concentrated on his writing and perfected several essays related to his youth. Some of these have appeared in Goldenseal magazine, a publication of the State of West Virginia. He also had time to continue his love of playwriting and expanded his completed plays to include over 70 finished works.
In 2010 Chuck created an acting workshop, Have You Ever Wanted to Act on Stage? for the Osher program at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh. He successfully managed this workshop for 10 years and stopped when Covid halted in-person activities. Chuck was a very social person and enjoyed getting together with friends, discussing politics, and watching basketball on the college and professional level. He followed the WVU football and basketball teams as well as the Ohio State Buckeyes. In addition, he enjoyed viewing and analyzing films and attending theater events.
Chuck is preceded in death by his parents, Clarence Melvin and Myrtle Mae, his brother, Robert, his sister, Dollena, and his son, Marc. He is survived by his wife, Linda, his nephews Tom Moore (Emily) of Grinnell, Iowa and Mike Moore (Susanne) of Blairsville, Georgia and several great nephews and nieces.
Visitation will be held Saturday from 1-2:30 PM at the Parzynski Funeral Home & Cremations LLC, Family Owned and Operated, 626 Broad Avenue, Belle Vernon 724-929-6183 followed by funeral services at 2:30 PM with Pastor Mary Kay Glunt of the First Presbyterian Church officiating.
Family and friends will be received at the Davis Funeral Home, 124 Olen Thomas Drive, Route 98, Clarksburg on Monday, September 25, 2023 from 10:00 AM until 12:00 PM. Funeral Service will be held on Monday September 25, 2023 at 12:00 PM with Reverend Jim Lang officiating. Interment will follow at Bridgeport Cemetery. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.DavisFuneralHomeWV.com. Davis Funeral Home is honored to serve the Thomas family.
The Family suggests memorial contributions be made in memory of Charles Thomas to your local PBS station. Condolences accepted at the funeral home’s website, www.parzynskifuneralhome.com
