Obituary: Richard D. "Rick" Thum, 79, Sabinsville
Richard D. “Rick” Thum, 79, of Sabinsville, PA, died Wednesday, January 23, 2019 in Sweden Valley Manor, Coudersport. Born June 15, 1939, in Martinsville, NJ, he was the son of Francis E. and Gladys Corbin Thum. He served honorably with the US Army and US Army National Guard from 1959 – 1964. On August 5, 1961, in Franklin Park, NJ, he married the former Cornelia W. “Corkie” Boyden, who survives. A 1957 graduate of Bound Brook High School, he attended Rutgers University. He was employed as a ready-mix truck driver by Houdaille Construction Materials and Weldon Concrete, retiring in 1993. Rick was a member of Teamsters Local #469 in Hazlet, NJ and a life member of the NRA. He was an avid dirt track modified stock car driver, competing on New Jersey tracks at Flemington and East Windsor for 15 years. After a several year abscence from racing, he began again as a car owner. Thum Racing Team (12T) fielded cars for many top Northeast modified drivers until 2004. Those drivers included the Van Pelts, Alan and Danny Johnson, Frank Cozze, Steve Paine, Jeff Trombley, and J.J. Yeley. Every weekend the car competed at tracks in Woodhull, Canandaigua, Weedsport, Syracuse, Rolling Wheels in Auburn, and Middletown with success. A hunter and fisherman, he hunted white tail deer on his farm and in New York and Kansas and fished off Pine Island, FL on the Gulf coast in his Mako fishing boat during the winter months. He enjoyed riding the back roads and fields with his Labrador retriever, Tug. Rick loved his farm and nothing made him happier than driving his John Deere tractor making hay. Surviving besides his beloved wife and best friend, Corkie, are: a son, Douglas Scott Thum of Sabinsville; two grandsons, Matthew (Rebecca) Thum of Laurel, MD and Douglas R. Thum of Plainsboro, NJ; a sister, Susan (William) Harrington of Overland Park, KS; nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a son, David Steven Thum; his step-mother, Alexandra Thum; and a brother, Jeffrey Thum. Friends may call at Olney Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Ulysses, PA on Monday, January 28, 2019 from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m., with Funeral Services following at 3:00 p.m. Military Rites will be accorded by members of the Potter County Honor Guard. Burial will be in Ten Mile Run Cemetery, Princeton, NJ. Memorials may be made to the National Rifle Association. Online condolences may be expressed at www.olneyfuneralhome.com.
