Thomas Zeitner

Thomas Robert Zeitner, 86, of Bath, PA, passed away unexpectedly at home on Sunday, September 15, 2024. Born on September 5, 1938, in Bethlehem, PA, he was the son of the late Leonard William and Ruth Luella (Muschlitz) Zeitner. He is survived by his devoted wife of 58 years, Josephine Ann (DeNofa) Zeitner.

Thomas will be fondly remembered as a hilarious larger-than-life character, always ready with a story, a joke, or a wildly exaggerated anecdote. In his glory days, you could find him either perfecting his bowling and golfing skills or leading a round of mundane storytelling at the Bath American Legion.

Thomas had an interesting relationship with craft beer: while he enjoyed it in the company of his son, he preferred to publicly deride it while indulging in Modelo with his friends. More recently, he developed a sophisticated palate for margaritas, proving that even his taste for beverages evolved, much like his taste for tall tales.

Thomas had a legendary talent for storytelling, masterfully weaving long-winded tales full of irrelevant details and dramatic pauses, much to the bemusement of his audience. His stories were always a hit, even if they occasionally took a scenic route. He gained a reputation for his cheerful tradition of singing birthday wishes to strangers with the complete lyrics of "This is your birthday song, it isn't very long..." The performance always finished with a moment of bewildered silence, which would inevitably give way to a burst of laughter and applause from everyone around.

A proud graduate of Liberty High School and a distinguished U.S. Marine, Thomas's resume was as eclectic as his personality. He dabbled in nearly every form of driving you can imagine-race car driver, truck driver, Trans Bridge bus driver, and car salesman. Despite his extensive experience behind the wheel, his knack for accidents was so legendary that his family humorously named local mishap locations in his honor, including the infamous Tom's Curve and Tom's Barn.

A dedicated member of Mountain View Wesleyan Church, Thomas shared his unique interpretation of rhythm and melody playing bass guitar in the church band. He also played bugle in his younger years, proving that his musical talents were as eclectic as his career and beverage choices.

He leaves behind his loving wife, Josephine Zeitner; his son, Zachary Zeitner, and his wife, Sheryll; his granddaughter, Rachel; and his siblings: Leonard (Bill) Zeitner, Barbara Tocci, Judith Barker, and Donald Zeitner, along with numerous nieces, nephews and other family members who will fondly recall his endless tales and questionable advice.

A service to celebrate Thomas's remarkable life will be announced in the weeks ahead. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to Mountain View Wesleyan Church, 1001 Deemers Rd., Bath, PA 18014.

To offer condolences and stay updated on the service details, please visit www.connellfuneral.com.