Edward C. Thomas, a Sylvania GTE Lighting Corp. service man and free-lance photographer, died Friday at his home in Hanover, Pa., after a long illness. He was 41.

Memorial services for Mr. Thomas will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church, 5602 Johnnycake Road.

Born in Baltimore, he was a 1967 graduate of Woodlawn High School and attended Catonsville Community College.

He served in the Air Force from 1968 to 1972.

Mr. Thomas worked for Sylvania for the past three years. He also had worked in the photo typesetting department of the American Graphics Arts Co. in Woodlawn for 10 years.

He is survived by his parents, James A. and Marian E. Thomas of Edmondson Heights; two brothers, Eugene F. Thomas of Klamath Falls, Ore., and Philip J. Thomas of Edmondson Heights; two sisters, Catherine M. Kucherer of Pasadena and Ruth A. Lowes of Hanover, Pa.; and his grandmother, Margaret M. Thomas, also of Edmondson Heights.

The family suggested that donations be made to the Hanover General Hospital Special Needs Fund, 300 Highland Ave., Hanover, Pa. 17331.