William
William Lewis Thomas
William (Bill) Lewis Thomas of Runk and Pratt, Gristmill Rd., passed away March 28, 2013. Born in Lynchburg on June 6, 1925, he was the son of the late H.M. Thomas and Beatrice Baxter Thomas. He was the husband of the late Ione Lindsey Thomas for 58 years. Bill was a lifetime member of Euclid Christian Church where he served as Deacon, Elder, and teacher of the Young Adults' Class (YACS) in the church school. He was a WWII Veteran having served in the Army in the European Theater. He was transferred from the Army of Occupation after being selected to study at the Shrivenham American University in England.
Bill earned his B.S. Degree in Chemistry at UVA where he was a member of Alpha Chi Sigma fraternity. He also earned his M.Ed. in Public School Administration at UVA. After earning his degree in chemistry, he was a chemist with the Shell Oil Company in Houston, TX. Bill returned to VA where he then entered the education profession. He served as Assistant Principal of Rustburg High School and later as Principal of Brookneal Elementary School. He ended his career in public education at E.C. Glass High School where he taught Chemistry and Math.
Bill then entered the banking business. He graduated from the NABAC School for Bank Auditors and Comptrollers at the University of Wisconsin. He served in many divisions of the oldest bank in Lynchburg, Lynchburg National Bank and Trust Co., which later became Central Fidelity Bank, from which he retired in 1987.
Bill was a Master Mason of Hill City Lodge #183 AF & AM, a Master of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Lynchburg, a Noble of the Mystic Shrine in Kazim Temple of Roanoke, VA, and the Lynchburg Shrine Club. He was a member of the Order of Odd Fellows, John Ferguson Lodge, No. 135, I.O.O.F where he served on the Board. In addition, he was involved in many civic activities.
While Bill had no children, he considered as his children his numerous nieces and nephews, especially Mary Lou Harvey, Pamela T. Davis, Rob Gregory, and Greg Thomas. He is survived by three sisters, Betty Thomas Drinkard (Jim) of Appomattox, VA, Nancy Thomas Gregory (Milton) of Lynchburg, VA, and Margaret Thomas Justice, of Salem, VA., and by a sister-in-law, June L. Allgood, of Louisville, KY. In addition to his wife and parents, he was predeceased by three brothers, H.M. Thomas, Jr., Richard T. Thomas, and James (Jim) Thomas and three sisters, Kathryn T. Harvey, V. Doris Thomas, and Shirley T. Clements.
The family would like to thank Bill's caregivers at Valley View and Runk and Pratt for their loving concern. Also, thanks to Dr. David Cannon and Dr. Peter Betz for their concerned care during Bill's struggle with Alzheimer's Disease, and to Rev. Jack Hamilton for his faithfulness during Bill's many years of confinement after Ione's death.
A celebration of Bill's life and faith will be held at Tharp Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Jack Hamilton officiating on Tuesday, April 2nd at 11 AM. There will be no visitation scheduled and the burial will be private.
Bill Thomas requested that "money not be wasted on flowers." He requested that any memorials be donated to the church of your choice or to the Alzheimer's Association
Bill earned his B.S. Degree in Chemistry at UVA where he was a member of Alpha Chi Sigma fraternity. He also earned his M.Ed. in Public School Administration at UVA. After earning his degree in chemistry, he was a chemist with the Shell Oil Company in Houston, TX. Bill returned to VA where he then entered the education profession. He served as Assistant Principal of Rustburg High School and later as Principal of Brookneal Elementary School. He ended his career in public education at E.C. Glass High School where he taught Chemistry and Math.
Bill then entered the banking business. He graduated from the NABAC School for Bank Auditors and Comptrollers at the University of Wisconsin. He served in many divisions of the oldest bank in Lynchburg, Lynchburg National Bank and Trust Co., which later became Central Fidelity Bank, from which he retired in 1987.
Bill was a Master Mason of Hill City Lodge #183 AF & AM, a Master of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Lynchburg, a Noble of the Mystic Shrine in Kazim Temple of Roanoke, VA, and the Lynchburg Shrine Club. He was a member of the Order of Odd Fellows, John Ferguson Lodge, No. 135, I.O.O.F where he served on the Board. In addition, he was involved in many civic activities.
While Bill had no children, he considered as his children his numerous nieces and nephews, especially Mary Lou Harvey, Pamela T. Davis, Rob Gregory, and Greg Thomas. He is survived by three sisters, Betty Thomas Drinkard (Jim) of Appomattox, VA, Nancy Thomas Gregory (Milton) of Lynchburg, VA, and Margaret Thomas Justice, of Salem, VA., and by a sister-in-law, June L. Allgood, of Louisville, KY. In addition to his wife and parents, he was predeceased by three brothers, H.M. Thomas, Jr., Richard T. Thomas, and James (Jim) Thomas and three sisters, Kathryn T. Harvey, V. Doris Thomas, and Shirley T. Clements.
The family would like to thank Bill's caregivers at Valley View and Runk and Pratt for their loving concern. Also, thanks to Dr. David Cannon and Dr. Peter Betz for their concerned care during Bill's struggle with Alzheimer's Disease, and to Rev. Jack Hamilton for his faithfulness during Bill's many years of confinement after Ione's death.
A celebration of Bill's life and faith will be held at Tharp Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Jack Hamilton officiating on Tuesday, April 2nd at 11 AM. There will be no visitation scheduled and the burial will be private.
Bill Thomas requested that "money not be wasted on flowers." He requested that any memorials be donated to the church of your choice or to the Alzheimer's Association
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of William Lewis Thomas, please visit our flower store.
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