He graduated from the eighth grade at the old Maze School and was a 1940 graduate of the Waynesville High School. He served in the U.S. Army from September 17, 1940 until he was honorably discharged on October 7, 1943, holding the rank of Sergeant.
On November 19, 1944 he was united in marriage to Opal Marie Zeornes and to this union two sons were born. She encouraged him to attend the University of Missouri-Columbia on the G.I. Bill and helped him out with his studies.
He worked for over 30 years with the Civil Service as a supply officer. Following his retirement from Civil Service he worked for the Waynesville R-VI school system and the Division of Family Services until 1983 when his health forced him to quit.
He was a member of the Waynesville United Methodist Church, Masonic Lodge No. 375 AF and AM, Missouri Historical Society, Pulaski County Historical Society, Abou Ben Adhem Temple of Springfield, Missouri, Waynesville-Fort Leonard Wood Shrine Club, Scottish Rite of Joplin, Missouri and the Disabled American Veterans. He was church secretary for three years and served on several committees. He had a deep and abiding faith in Jesus Christ and was concerned with the welfare of all people, favoring the “underdog”.
Funeral services were held Monday, September 30, 1985 at 2:00 p.m. at the Waynesville United Methodist Church with Rev. Jess Norris officiating.
Serving as pallbearers were Henry Breeden, Jim Dodds, Audrey Glore, John Helm, Lyman Helm, Keith Pritchard, and Sam Threlkheld.
Survivors include his wife, Opal of the home; two sons, Gregory Thomas of Ashland, Missouri and Phillip Thomas of Granite City, Illinois; a sister, Helen Crumpley of Waynesville, Missouri; two grandchildren, Eli Thomas and Krystal Thomas and three step-grandchildren, Erica Polito, Michael Lang, and Eric Sappington.
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