Donald L Thomas
(July 31, 1926 – August 17, 2013)
Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, August 23, 2013 in Grace Cemetery, Strasburg, IL. Following the service, a luncheon will be held in the Strasburg Community Building. Memorials may be given to Strasburg United Methodist Church, Boy Scouts of America or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Howe and Yockey Funeral Home in Strasburg, IL is in charge of arrangements.
Mr. Thomas was born on July 31, 1926 in Strasburg, IL, the son of Harry Estes and Bessie Maye Gill Thomas. He was a U. S. Navy veteran of WW II. When Don returned from the service he worked as a farmer and also as a truck driver. He then began working as a welder for Blaw-Knox in Mattoon, IL and retired after 35 years of employment. Don was a member of the Wilbur Braughton American Legion Post #611 in Stewardson, IL and was affiliated with the Strasburg United Methodist Church. He married Mary Jane Fowler on February 22, 1947. She died on June 24, 2007.
He is survived by his daughters, Phyllis Jo Caskey of Springfield, IL, Patricia Ann Hornor (Ronald) of Flemington, WV, Betty Jean Burns of Mattoon, IL, Vickie Lynn Abella (Virgil) of Glendale, AZ, Peggy Ann Terrell of St. Louis, MO and Sherry Marie Parker (William) of Lerna, IL; brother, Oscar Thomas (Phyllis) of Strasburg, IL; sister, Alice Daniels of Strasburg, IL; 17 grandchildren; 32 great grandchildren; and 1 great great granddaughter.
He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Donna Kay Thomas-Richards; brothers, William, Paul, Gaylord, Irvin and Omer “Bub” Thomas; sisters, Agnes Ross and Bertha Green; and two grandsons, Albert Allen Hawn and Ronald Brien Hornor.
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