Theophilus was raised in White Township, Cambria County, Pa. When he was 9 months old, "T.H." was stricken with infantily paralysis for a two month period. In his youth, he cooked in logging camps in White and Chest Townships. He later taught school in Barr Township, was a tool grinder in the local steel mills, worked as a crane operator, and worked in the coalmines near Patton. T.H. was also a photographer in Hastings and Johnstown before his purchase of the Patton Studio from a W. D. Kennedy. He operated the studio for over fifteen years, and had his home near St. Mary's Cemetery there. T.H.’s WWI draft card indicated that both of his legs were deformed.

T.H. was shot dead at the age of 79 by a youth who entered his home in rural Clearfield Township and demanded car keys. James J. Dunegan, 17, from the nearby Earl and Margaret Dunegan farm, set out early one morning to avenge a beating from two Chest Springs youths. He took a shotgun and hunting knife between 4 and 5 a.m. and went to T.H.’s home and asked to borrow his car. When T.H. refused, James threw his knife which struck T.H. in the back, and then shot him in the abdomen. The death certificate noted the knife wound and indicated that the blast caused a massive intra-dominal hemorrage. James then took the car keys but was unable to start the vehicle. James then went to the home of a neighbor, Mrs. Isabella Arnold. Mrs. Arnold was absent due to a hospitalization but was greeted by a boarder, Dwaine Kirkpatrick, 60. Dwaine noted James’ gun and when he turned to get his own firearm James followed and shot him in the back as he entered the kitchen. James took Dwaine’s car and started toward Chest Springs but soon developed engine trouble and stopped at the home of Miss Rita O’Leary on Route 36, along the Patton-Chest Springs Road. James was allowed in and was given a cup of coffee. James related that he killed the two men and Miss O’Leary tried to convince him to give himself up. He instead agreed to return his home with her. James cut the telephone wires to her home as she was getting ready, but decided to do her no harm. The pair went to the Dunegan farm and conferred with James’ mother, Margaret. James then retrieved another shotgun at the home, set out on foot, and approached the home of another neighbor, James Cromer. James drove Cromer’s car along Route 36 and became stuck in a ditch near the home of Albert Nagle. Nagle proceeded to disarm the youth by taking the shotguns from the front seat. James next walked toa wooded area known as Klondike Valley, and at some point came to the Willow Dell Restaurant at Patton RD, smashed windows, entered the establishment and took some milk. He eventually returned home, where he was found hiding in the hayloft of the family barn. James appeared deranged during questioning and pleaded innocent on that basis. He was put over to the juvenile court for disposition. He was evidently not tried as an adult and was eventually released. His father’s obituary in 1984 indicated that James was living in Salt Lake City, Ut.