David W. Thomas

David Wynn Thomas, 84, of Schwenksville, PA, died Tuesday, January 20, 2026. He was the beloved husband of Linda Hathway, his 'Faire Spouse' of 38 years.

Born July 5, 1941, in Philadelphia, he was the son of the late James and Louise (Smith) Thomas.

In Dave's hands, curiosity stayed in constant motion through the spirit of making. Code became elegant solutions. Flour and water became masterful bread. Clay became vessels. Wood became music. And through a Kodak Brownie Target 620 and an Argus C3—the same cameras he'd acquired in the 1950s—moments became memory.

He called his website "Dave's Bakery & Asylum/Miscellaneous Miscellany," the title alone speaking volumes about a man who viewed life as a fascinating collection of rare pursuits, just waiting to be lovingly cultivated and deeply explored.

Dave built a distinguished career as an embedded systems programmer and software engineer, retiring from Moore Products Company (Siemens) after years of translating complex problems into purposeful code. But his true autobiography was written in sourdough starter, camera film, railroad steam, and sawdust—in all the things a curious mind can build when it never stops asking "how?"

His challah braids, sourdough loaves, and Thomas family pumpkin pies, transported in custom- engineered wooden caddies, brought immeasurable joy to countless gatherings. His signature cookie lineup included rarities like Belted Galloway cookies and painter palette cookies that colorfully debuted at art openings.

With the world as his studio, his creative pursuits always rolled full steam ahead. His railroad photography, particularly of steam engines, documented a vanishing era that he chased with devotion. His pottery emerged plentifully from the wheel. He pruned bonsai with patience and precision. His harpsichord, which he hand-built and painted himself, sang under skilled fingers.

Dave studied cello, supported the Community Music School, and filled the soundtrack of his life with a deep appreciation for live music, from the Irish folk tune to classical concertos. He served the Perkiomen Valley Art Center for decades as newsletter editor and publisher, show coordinator, reception cookie baker, and advisor on all things.

Dave approached life with thoughtful intensity and endless curiosity—whether hiking trails, cycling backroads, or pondering the mysteries of existence as a dedicated freethinker. He was a true Renaissance person who understood that you learn about the world by making things, and that what you make with care endures.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by Linda's siblings and their spouses. He was a cherished uncle to numerous nieces and nephews across the country.

Graveside services will be held privately in Valley Forge Memorial Gardens. Arrangements are by the Huff and Lakjer Funeral Home, Lansdale.