PAUL THOMAS


 

 

Paul Nathaniel Thomas was born April 1, 1932, in Santa Rosa, deep in the Rio Grande. He was a middle child of 8, born to Homer Alonzo Thomas and Edna Mae (Shelton) Thomas. Paul’s family moved to the Valley from Madison, Indiana in the 1920s. Paul and his siblings worked in the citrus fields of his parent’s farm. He had a carefree, happy childhood working on the farm with dairy cows, raising chickens for food and sharing hog butchering with neighbors and family.

His education was better than most because of small classes and one-onone learning with dedicated teachers. He enjoyed calculus, trigonometry, algebra and physics. Paul was a decidedly, dedicated lifetime learner. He was interested in politics, religion, early history and latter-day history of the entire world and knew something about it all, yet Paul was a very humble man. He was the most interesting person to discuss the world news with because up until the day he died, he read constantly.

Paul was drafted into the Army and sent to Washington state and trained to be a military policeman. He thought he would be sent to the Korean War, but instead was sent to Hawaii. He finished his service and came home to the Valley. Paul went to work for the chemical company, Celanese in Bishop and worked there until his retirement in September of 1985. He then became a realtor, appraiser of houses and land, and a broker.

Paul believed in giving of yourself to your community and was involved in numerous organizations. Paul’s awards included Meritious Service Award from the American Heart Association, Kingsville Board of Realtors Presidential Award, President of Bishop Chamber of Commerce, Kleberg County Appraisal District Award of Appreciaton, Kingsville Board of Realtors-Realtor of the Year, Bishop CISD School Board Member 1983-1998 and Bishop Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Service Award- 2001. Paul served at the Bishop First United Methodist Church in almost every position on the Church Council and was a lifetime member there.

Paul was married to Ruth Ann Miller in 1962, and they had three children, Jeri Ruth, Paula Sue and Charles Clark. Ruth passed away in 1997 and Paul later married Laurel Nola-Theresa Starry in 2001. Laurel had three children from a previous marriage, Laura Lee, Roy Lynn and Heather Ann.

Paul was preceded in death by his first wife, Ruth, his parents, siblings Charles, Edna Mae, Jane, Homer and stepdaughter Heather.

He is survived by his wife, Laurel, sisters, Nell, Jill and brother, Jack. His children Jeri, Paula, Clark, stepchildren, Laura and Eric Ricks, Roy and Sandy Robinette. Twelve grandchildren and numerous great-grand children.

All will miss him greatly. Paul’s life was a well-lived life with Christ at the center and love in his heart.

A visitation will be held on Saturday, October 1, at Hurley Funeral Home, from 9-10 a.m., with a funeral service starting at 10 a.m. Burial will follow at Pleasanton City Cemetery.

Pallbearers are his grandsons, William Chaney Custer, Nathan Martin Ricks, Ryan Patrick Robinette, Darren De La Cruz, granddaughter, Emmalie Thomas and son, Clark Thomas. Grandson, Joseph Paterno, will be honorary pallbearer and will walk beside his grandfather’s casket.

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