Thomas R. Heidecker Thomas R. Heidecker has gone to be with his Lord after a long and courageous battle with leukemia. He died on Sunday evening, Sept. 28 at his home surrounded by his loving family who treasured him as a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He was the husband of Ruth Heidecker. They celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary in February. He was predeceased by his son, Thomas, Jr., in 1949. Born in Bethlehem on December 19, 1918, Tom was the youngest of eight children born to August and Anna (Brugger) Heidecker. He attended Liberty High School and Penn State University. After serving his country honorably in WWII in the U.S. Coast Guard, he returned home to his wife in Philadelphia and eventually to the Lehigh Valley. He became President and owner of Emmaus Ford in 1961, where he remained until his retirement in 1984. A respected member of the business community, Tom was President of both the Lehigh Valley Dealers Association and the Ford Dealers Association of the Greater Philadelphia Area, a director of the Allentown-Lehigh County Chamber of Commerce, and served on the Board of The First National Bank. Tom was a devoted and active member of his church throughout his life. At Holy Ghost Church he was a member of the Mens Choir for many years and President of the Holy Name Society. He was also a member of the mens group at St. Pauls in Allentown. Tom had a passion for life, which he shared with his many friends. He enjoyed playing golf at Lehigh Country Club where he was a member since 1968. He also enjoyed playing bridge with friends, and was known for his love of music and dancing. He and his wife, Ruth, traveled extensively, always together. Survivors: He will be lovingly remembered by his wife, daughter Ruthann, her husband Pedro, son Richard, his wife Kay, daughter Jane, her husband Stanley, son Michael, his wife Terese, ten grandchildren, four great grandchildren. Services: A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2008 at 11:00 AM in St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 1040 Flexor Avenue, Allentown. Viewing Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2008 from 7:00 to 8:30 PM in the Schantz Funeral Home, Inc., 250 Main St., Emmaus and Thursday 10:00 to 11:00 AM in the church. Entombment will follow in Resurrection Cemetery. Online condolences may be made to www.schantzfh.com Contributions: In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 1040 Flexor Avenue, Allentown, PA 18103 or to The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Donor Services, P.O. Box 4072, Pittsfield, MA 01202.