Kenneth E. Thomas
Kenneth (Ken) Elton Thomas, age 97, passed away peacefully on Aug. 4, 2014. He was born on Feb. 4, 1917 in Miles City, Montana, to the late William D. and Kathryn Thomas. He started school in Sheridan, Wyoming, then lived in numerous locations before graduating from Woodrow Wilson High School in Dallas, Texas in 1934, after which he attended North Texas Agricultural College and YMCA night school in Dallas. During World War II, he worked for V.P. Loftis Company on defense construction. In 1945, he joined Alpha Portland Cement Company as a sales representative with a territory covering parts of four states. He retired from Alpha in 1982 and was always proud of his unblemished safe-driving record. In retirement, he was affiliated with John W. Rosenberger & Co., where he worked part-time in outside sales of building materials. Alpha was the company that brought him to Winchester, where he met the love of his life, the former Nancy Bruce Lodge. They married on June 18, 1949 in Winchester and enjoyed 65 years of togetherness. He always referred to Nancy as “my beautiful wife.” A longtime member of First Presbyterian Church, which he joined in 1951, he served actively as a deacon, elder, usher and on various church committees such as the Living Memorial committee and Men’s Visitation committee and luncheon. An active member of The Exchange Club of Winchester since 1972, he served as past president and also was a member on the local and state Honor Rolls of Exchange. In 1980, he founded the Exchange Club Golf Classic to benefit the Child-Parent Center of Winchester and other community projects. In 2001, Exchange Club honored him by naming the tournament The Ken Thomas Exchange Club Golf Classic. The tournament was held for 25 years (1980-2005) at Carpers Valley Golf Club, where he enjoyed being a member for many years. In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter, Sara Thomas Hunt (Chris) of Richmond; a son, Bradford Lodge Thomas of Dallas; two grandsons, Matthew Thomas Hunt of Atlanta and Andrew Lodge Hunt of Herndon, Va.; a number of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, other extended family members and many friends from Exchange Club, First Presbyterian Church and other walks of life. He was predeceased by his parents and by his brother, Claude Carroll Thomas of Shreveport, La. Ken never met a stranger and, even when declining health resulted in a move to an assisted living facility in 2013, he made many new friends at Hilltop House. Ken was a wonderful example of someone who was 97-years-young, playing golf into his early 90s. Ken was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend. He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. A visitation will be held at Omps Funeral Home, Amherst Chapel, 1600 Amherst St. in Winchester, on Thursday, Aug. 14 from 6:30-8:30 PM. A celebration of Ken’s life will be held at First Presbyterian Church, 116 S. Loudoun St. in Winchester, on Friday, Aug. 15 at 11:00 AM, followed by a reception at the church. The family will have a private burial at Mt. Hebron Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts in Ken’s memory may be made to The Living Memorial Fund, First Presbyterian Church, 116 S. Loudoun St., Winchester, VA 22601 or to Blue Ridge Hospice, 333 West Cork St., Suite 405, Winchester, VA 22601.
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