Col. Eldridge Thomas, U.S. Army retired, passed away Monday, April 29, 2013, at the Garden View Retirement Living home. He is preceded in death by his parents, Elder Aubrey & Mae Youmans Thomas; his step-mother, Eliza Roundtree Thomas; his first wife of 60 years, Kathleen Lila Johns Thomas; two sons, Eldridge Thomas, Jr. & Robert Thomas; two grandchildren, Jason and Marilynn; and all three of his sisters, Maggie, Christine, & Freda.
Col. Thomas retired from the U. S. Army in March 1974 after serving over 35 years. He entered the military in February 1939 and was a veteran of the WWII, Korean, and Vietnam wars. His service included assignments in the Pacific Islands, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, German, and throughout the United States. He was an active member of several military organizations, including the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, and the Military Officers Association of American (formerly Retired Officers Association).
Col. Thomas was a 1936 graduate of Patterson High School. He entered the Civilian Conservation Corps in October 1936 and served in Baxley's forestry camp, Ft. Benning's supply camp, and Macon's exploratory (Native American mounds) camp. He was discharged from the CCC upon joining the armed forces in February 1939. When he entered the army he went up to the rank of Master Sgt. and from there he went to Warrant Officer, then OCS, then attaining the rank of Colonel from which he retired.
He earned an undergraduate degree in Management and an MBA from Golden Gate University.
Col. Thomas was a 32nd Degree Scottish Right Mason and was a member of the Blackshear Masonic Lodge, #270. He was also a longtime member of the Patterson Lion's Club.
Col. Thomas was a member of the Patterson Baptist Church where he taught the Men's Bible Sunday school class since 1980.
Survivors include his 2nd wife, Marge Crump O'Connell Thomas of Blackshear; a daughter and son-in-law, Maureen & Kris Bowers of Patterson; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Philip Thomas of Mooresville, IN and James & Janice Thomas of Blackshear; 8 grandchildren, Linda, Ashley, Brandi, Tamee, Lorie, William, Wayne and Shana; numerous great grandchildren and several nieces, nephews & other relatives.
Visitation for Col. Thomas will be held Wednesday evening from 6 until 8 at the funeral home.
Funeral services for Col. Thomas will be held Thursday morning, May 2, 2013, at 11:00 o'clock at the Patterson Baptist Church.
The family requests that members of the Men's Bible Class serve as honorary pallbearers. The family also would like for any veterans in attendance to be considered honorary pallbearers.
Interment will be in the Patterson Cemetery with full military honors as well as Masonic rites.
Pearson-Dial Funeral Home
659 Main Street
Blackshear, GA 31516
Phone: (912) 449-6626
www.pearsondial.com/
Col. Thomas retired from the U. S. Army in March 1974 after serving over 35 years. He entered the military in February 1939 and was a veteran of the WWII, Korean, and Vietnam wars. His service included assignments in the Pacific Islands, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, German, and throughout the United States. He was an active member of several military organizations, including the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, and the Military Officers Association of American (formerly Retired Officers Association).
Col. Thomas was a 1936 graduate of Patterson High School. He entered the Civilian Conservation Corps in October 1936 and served in Baxley's forestry camp, Ft. Benning's supply camp, and Macon's exploratory (Native American mounds) camp. He was discharged from the CCC upon joining the armed forces in February 1939. When he entered the army he went up to the rank of Master Sgt. and from there he went to Warrant Officer, then OCS, then attaining the rank of Colonel from which he retired.
He earned an undergraduate degree in Management and an MBA from Golden Gate University.
Col. Thomas was a 32nd Degree Scottish Right Mason and was a member of the Blackshear Masonic Lodge, #270. He was also a longtime member of the Patterson Lion's Club.
Col. Thomas was a member of the Patterson Baptist Church where he taught the Men's Bible Sunday school class since 1980.
Survivors include his 2nd wife, Marge Crump O'Connell Thomas of Blackshear; a daughter and son-in-law, Maureen & Kris Bowers of Patterson; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Philip Thomas of Mooresville, IN and James & Janice Thomas of Blackshear; 8 grandchildren, Linda, Ashley, Brandi, Tamee, Lorie, William, Wayne and Shana; numerous great grandchildren and several nieces, nephews & other relatives.
Visitation for Col. Thomas will be held Wednesday evening from 6 until 8 at the funeral home.
Funeral services for Col. Thomas will be held Thursday morning, May 2, 2013, at 11:00 o'clock at the Patterson Baptist Church.
The family requests that members of the Men's Bible Class serve as honorary pallbearers. The family also would like for any veterans in attendance to be considered honorary pallbearers.
Interment will be in the Patterson Cemetery with full military honors as well as Masonic rites.
Pearson-Dial Funeral Home
659 Main Street
Blackshear, GA 31516
Phone: (912) 449-6626
www.pearsondial.com/
Col. Eldridge Thomas, U.S. Army retired, passed away Monday, April 29, 2013, at the Garden View Retirement Living home. He is preceded in death by his parents, Elder Aubrey & Mae Youmans Thomas; his step-mother, Eliza Roundtree Thomas; his first wife of 60 years, Kathleen Lila Johns Thomas; two sons, Eldridge Thomas, Jr. & Robert Thomas; two grandchildren, Jason and Marilynn; and all three of his sisters, Maggie, Christine, & Freda.
Col. Thomas retired from the U. S. Army in March 1974 after serving over 35 years. He entered the military in February 1939 and was a veteran of the WWII, Korean, and Vietnam wars. His service included assignments in the Pacific Islands, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, German, and throughout the United States. He was an active member of several military organizations, including the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, and the Military Officers Association of American (formerly Retired Officers Association).
Col. Thomas was a 1936 graduate of Patterson High School. He entered the Civilian Conservation Corps in October 1936 and served in Baxley's forestry camp, Ft. Benning's supply camp, and Macon's exploratory (Native American mounds) camp. He was discharged from the CCC upon joining the armed forces in February 1939. When he entered the army he went up to the rank of Master Sgt. and from there he went to Warrant Officer, then OCS, then attaining the rank of Colonel from which he retired.
He earned an undergraduate degree in Management and an MBA from Golden Gate University.
Col. Thomas was a 32nd Degree Scottish Right Mason and was a member of the Blackshear Masonic Lodge, #270. He was also a longtime member of the Patterson Lion's Club.
Col. Thomas was a member of the Patterson Baptist Church where he taught the Men's Bible Sunday school class since 1980.
Survivors include his 2nd wife, Marge Crump O'Connell Thomas of Blackshear; a daughter and son-in-law, Maureen & Kris Bowers of Patterson; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Philip Thomas of Mooresville, IN and James & Janice Thomas of Blackshear; 8 grandchildren, Linda, Ashley, Brandi, Tamee, Lorie, William, Wayne and Shana; numerous great grandchildren and several nieces, nephews & other relatives.
Visitation for Col. Thomas will be held Wednesday evening from 6 until 8 at the funeral home.
Funeral services for Col. Thomas will be held Thursday morning, May 2, 2013, at 11:00 o'clock at the Patterson Baptist Church.
The family requests that members of the Men's Bible Class serve as honorary pallbearers. The family also would like for any veterans in attendance to be considered honorary pallbearers.
Interment will be in the Patterson Cemetery with full military honors as well as Masonic rites.
Pearson-Dial Funeral Home
659 Main Street
Blackshear, GA 31516
Phone: (912) 449-6626
www.pearsondial.com/
Col. Thomas retired from the U. S. Army in March 1974 after serving over 35 years. He entered the military in February 1939 and was a veteran of the WWII, Korean, and Vietnam wars. His service included assignments in the Pacific Islands, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, German, and throughout the United States. He was an active member of several military organizations, including the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, and the Military Officers Association of American (formerly Retired Officers Association).
Col. Thomas was a 1936 graduate of Patterson High School. He entered the Civilian Conservation Corps in October 1936 and served in Baxley's forestry camp, Ft. Benning's supply camp, and Macon's exploratory (Native American mounds) camp. He was discharged from the CCC upon joining the armed forces in February 1939. When he entered the army he went up to the rank of Master Sgt. and from there he went to Warrant Officer, then OCS, then attaining the rank of Colonel from which he retired.
He earned an undergraduate degree in Management and an MBA from Golden Gate University.
Col. Thomas was a 32nd Degree Scottish Right Mason and was a member of the Blackshear Masonic Lodge, #270. He was also a longtime member of the Patterson Lion's Club.
Col. Thomas was a member of the Patterson Baptist Church where he taught the Men's Bible Sunday school class since 1980.
Survivors include his 2nd wife, Marge Crump O'Connell Thomas of Blackshear; a daughter and son-in-law, Maureen & Kris Bowers of Patterson; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Philip Thomas of Mooresville, IN and James & Janice Thomas of Blackshear; 8 grandchildren, Linda, Ashley, Brandi, Tamee, Lorie, William, Wayne and Shana; numerous great grandchildren and several nieces, nephews & other relatives.
Visitation for Col. Thomas will be held Wednesday evening from 6 until 8 at the funeral home.
Funeral services for Col. Thomas will be held Thursday morning, May 2, 2013, at 11:00 o'clock at the Patterson Baptist Church.
The family requests that members of the Men's Bible Class serve as honorary pallbearers. The family also would like for any veterans in attendance to be considered honorary pallbearers.
Interment will be in the Patterson Cemetery with full military honors as well as Masonic rites.
Pearson-Dial Funeral Home
659 Main Street
Blackshear, GA 31516
Phone: (912) 449-6626
www.pearsondial.com/
Inscription
COL US ARMY
WWII KOREA VIETNAM
Family Members
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Records on Ancestry
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
