Paul Thomas

Paul Thomas was born to Corneal and Leona‭ (‬Kane‭) ‬Thomas on December‭ ‬27,‭ ‬1923‭ ‬on a farm Northwest of Ringwood,‭ ‬Oklahoma.‭  ‬He attended his first eight years at Riverside country school and then had the special privilege of attending and graduating from Oklahoma Bible Academy.‭  ‬After graduating high school,‭ ‬he started farming at his dad’s request.‭  ‬He was one of four children,‭ ‬Frank,‭ ‬Grace,‭ ‬Paul,‭ ‬and Leo.‭  ‬The Lord has called all the siblings to their Heavenly home.‭  ‬They were all pastors,‭ ‬teachers,‭ ‬and a pastor’s wife.‭  ‬Paul grew up in a household that sang.‭  ‬He sang with his dad and siblings,‭ ‬a men’s quartet from OBA as well as his father-in-law Ben Schmidt,‭ ‬and brothers-in-law,‭ ‬Vernon,‭ ‬and Kenneth Schmidt.‭ ‬He loved music,‭ ‬playing the harmonica,‭ ‬accordion,‭ ‬and autoharp.‭   ‬Paul accepted the Lord at a young age and always said‭ “‬my parents prayers brought me through serious illnesses such as diphtheria as a child and rheumatic fever while in the service.‭  ‬He had the privilege of being a Sunday School teacher,‭ ‬leading the church in different offices such as Board Chairman and church treasurer for many years.‭  ‬He was also an officer with the Gideons.‭  ‬Throughout their life,‭ ‬Paul and Verda Mae supported missions,‭ ‬not only financially but by showing hospitality to missionaries throughout the world.‭  ‬Besides farming,‭ ‬he enjoyed driving heavy equipment working for Major County,‭ ‬maintaining the roads.‭  ‬He also built oil lease pads for Earl Jantzen.‭  ‬One unique contributions he made was to do all the dirt work for the old drag strip because of his excellent eye for elevation.‭  ‬Paul leaves behind his wife of‭ ‬72‭ ‬years,‭ ‬Verda Mae‭ (‬Schmidt‭) ‬Thomas,‭ ‬a son Mark Thomas married to Karen and daughter Paula Cellamare married to Alan.‭  ‬He has‭ ‬5‭ ‬grandchildren Carrie White,‭ ‬Tara Alexander,‭ ‬Anna-Marie‭ (‬Cecil Brandon‭)‬,‭ ‬Adam‭ (‬Kady‭) ‬Cellamare and Benjamin‭ (‬Melissa‭) ‬Cellamare and‭ ‬5‭ ‬great grandchildren Noah,‭ ‬Mykah,‭ ‬Mya,‭ ‬Carrie,‭ ‬and Maximus.‭ Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 4, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. in New Hopedale Mennonite Church in Meno.  Committal prayers and interment will follow in West New Hopedale Cemetery, Ringwood, under the kind guidance of the Amy Stittsworth Funeral Service.  A family, meet and  greet will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.  on Thursday evening, May 3, 2018 at the Indian Creek  Village Winery Chapel, previously known as West New Hopedale Church (52 County Road 640, Ringwood).   ‬All memorial gifts can be directed to either the Gideons International or Oklahoma Bible Academy in Enid,‭ ‬Oklahoma. Remembrances may be shared online at www.stittsworthfuneralservices.com.

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