John Thomas

Mr. John A. Thomas, born July 17, 1920 to the late
Zeb and Mary Willie Thomas of Union Springs, Alabama,
departed this life on October 20, 2011.
He grew up in Winchester, Kentucky and attended
Oliver High School. At an early age, John accepted Christ
as his Saviour. He has been a member of Bethel Baptist for
over 70 years.
As a young man, he enlisted in the Army Civilian Conservation
Corps in 1939 as shoemaker. He later worked as
an accomplished shoe apprentice for Walter F. Shurigs in
Winchester, Kentucky until 1943.
Private First Class Thomas joined the United States
Army in 1945 as an expert rifle marksman and longshoreman.
He was highly decorated and honored, receiving
several awards and medals.
After serving our nation, he attended New York Technical
Institute of Cincinnati, achieving a degree in Commercial
Refrigeration in 1949.
On June 2, 1950, he was joined in holy matrimony to
Marybelle who preceded him in death. He leaves to mourn:
his grandchildren, Tracey Ann Lackey, Terri Lynn Lackey
and Gregory Lackey; nieces, nephews, his faithful friend,
Deborah Zimmerman, and many others.