Thomas Staples Riherd

RIHERD, Thomas Staples, 85, of Sun City Center, passed away on Wednesday, May 9, 2007. He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Mary Ellen; son, Thomas, Jr. and his wife, Philana of Chandler, Arizona; grandson, Thomas, III of San Francisco, California; two sisters, Rachel Bosma of College Park, Maryland and Mary Spencer of Tampa. Mr. Riherd was born in Tampa on October 1, 1921 and graduated from H.B. Plant High School. He was a graduate of the University of Florida with a degree in Accounting. He was a member of the Beta Alpha Psi honorary accounting fraternity. Mr. Riherd was a member of the University of Florida golf team and a member of the Letterman�s Club. A World War II veteran of the U.S. Navy, he served for 28 months in the Pacific Theater and was discharged as a Lieutenant. Mr. Riherd became a certified public accountant in 1953, certificate #735, and spent his entire career in private business. He was a lifetime member of the Florida Institute of CPA�s. Mr. Riherd was an outstanding amateur golfer and held various state and local titles. He was a longtime member of Palma Ceia Golf and Country Club in Tampa, having served as Treasurer and a member of the Board of Directors for a number of years. He was a member of Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church and was very active until he moved to Sun City Center, Florida in 1987, when he became a member of St. Andrew Presbyterian Church. Mr. Riherd was a Scottish Rite Mason. He was a member of the Downtown Kiwanis Club, where he was on the Board of Directors and active in many professional and civic organizations. The family will receive friends on Friday, May 11, 2007 from 5pm until 8pm at Garden of Memories Funeral Home, 4207 E. Lake Ave., Tampa. The memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 12, 2007 at 11am at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, 1239 Del Webb Blvd., Sun City Center, FL (813 634-1252). The family requests in lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to LifePath Hospice, 3725 Upper Creek Dr., Sun City Center, FL 33573.