Thomas Walrath

Thomas David Walrath, 88, of Plymouth, New Hampshire, passed away on Sunday, August 6, 2023, in Fort Myers, Florida. Born in Buffalo, NY, on December 5, 1934, he was the son of Whitney and Hazel Walrath. Tom grew up in New York and had fond memories of playing hockey at Nichols School. Most of Tom's stories involved being drafted into the military. He served in Germany after the Korean War and, because he broke his leg, ended up having to take a one-month journey across the Atlantic on a large ship rather than with his unit on an airplane. When Tom came back from Europe, he graduated from the University of Buffalo after transferring from Middlebury College in Vermont. In 1971, he moved to New Hampshire with his beloved wife Nancy to start the PennySaver along with his partner and uncle, H. John Sobetzer, and his wife Joy, who spent some summers in New Hampshire. Until he retired in 1999, his life was dedicated to his family and the PennySaver. He was heavily involved in the free paper industry and became the president of the Free Community Papers of New England while participating in other national organizations during his career. The PennySaver that Tom and John started in Plymouth was based on the Hamburg New York PennySaver from their childhood hometown. The original PennySaver office was located above the Hong Kong Garden in downtown. During the late '70s, the line at deadline would stretch down the steep staircase from the second floor out onto Main Street. Tom enjoyed going to Irwin Automotive every week for an advertisement and talking with the staff, managers, and owner. We will always remember the time he entered and won the Irwin Automotive raffle for a 20-pound lobster that was tough as shoe leather. Starting out as an accountant, he also developed a database program on Macintosh computers and would go to Macworld in Boston every year to visit the Fourth Dimension booth. The billing program he developed is still used today at the PennySaver. Tom is predeceased by his parents and beloved wife. He is survived by his sons, David Walrath and wife Yulia, of Concord, NH; Peter Walrath and wife Yasmine, of Cerritos, CA; daughter Seuzan Walrath of East Wakefield, NH; four grandchildren, Sarah, Lauren, Sean, and Sophia. The family will have a private Christian ceremony this spring.

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Thomas Walrath

December 5, 1934 - August 6, 2023