Obituary of Harry Thomas

Coffeyville - Harry Thomas, 84, of Coffeyville, passed away Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at the Robert J. Dole V.A. Medical Center in Wichita, Kansas. Harry was born on August 1, 1923 to Joe Austin and Lou (Johnson) Thomas in Ozark, Arkansas. He grew up and attended school at Van Buren. He was a veteran of World War II serving in the U.S. Army with the 938 ABS Battalion in the Rhineland, Normandy and Northern France Campaigns, following his discharge in 1946 he returned to the Van Buren area.. In July of 1946 he married Lucille Lafeyette. They were later divorced. In 1955 he married Aletha (Vaughn) Lovelace, they were also later divorced.. In 1953 Mr. Thomas moved to Coffeyville where he worked for the Missouri Pacific Railroad and Jensen Brothers Mfg., Pressure Cast, and Funk Mfg where he worked until his retirement. After retirement, Harry worked at the Salvation Army and was a maintenance man and groundskeeper at the Brown Mansion in Coffeyville. He was an attended Union Baptist Church and belonged to the Masonic Lodge. Survivors include three sons, Joe Thomas of Dumas, AR, Harry Thomas of Fort Smith, AR, and Michael Thomas of Milwaukee, WI; five daughters, Katherine Harris of Banning, CA, Kay Pouncil of Bartlesville, OK, Bonita Carter of Wichita, Brishawn Johnson of Coffeyville and Rhonda Wright of Coffeyville; one step-son, William Lovelace of Coffeyville and two step-daughters Jacquelyn Maloney of Wichita, and Virginia Jones of Van Buren, AR; thirty three grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren. Harry has been preceded in death by his parents and a step daughter, Shirley Robinson of Coffeyville. Services will be Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. at the Union Baptist Church in Coffeyville. Burial will be in Fairview Cemetery with military honors conducted by the U.S. Army Honor Guard, Ft. Riley. Friends may call at the David W. Barnes Funeral Home on Monday, February 18 from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. and on Tuesday, February 19 from 9:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.