Obit: Thomas, Arnold E. #2 (1922 - 2007)
Contact:  Audrey Roedl
Email: audero@charter.net

Surnames: THOMAS RANKINS MALINOWSKI OELRICH MUELLER COX CANFIELD

----Sources: Loyal TRG 07 February 2007

Thomas, Arnold E. #2 (5 FEB 1922 - 31 JAN 2007)

Arnold E. Thomas, 84, Greenwood, died at Saint Joseph’s Hospital, Marshfield, Jan. 31, 2007. Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 5, 2007, at the United Methodist Church, Loyal. The Rev. Wendell Williams officiated. Burial followed in the Greenwood City Cemetery. Pallbearers were Glen Thomas, Gene Oelrich, Troy Thomas, Wayne Thomas, Steven Thomas, Steve Canfield and Matthew Thomas.

Arnold Ellwood Thomas was born on Feb. 5, 1922, in Ontario, to William John and Mary Rosetta (nee Rankins) Thomas. In 1924, his family moved to Ladysmith by train and lived there until 1931. They then bought a farm in Globe and moved their cattle from Ladysmith on foot. They finally settled on a farm near Greenwood, in April 1935. He graduated from Greenwood High School in 1939. He married Delores C. Malinowski on Oct. 10, 1945, in Missouri. They farmed south of Greenwood and raised their family of four sons. They retired and sold the farm to their son, LeRoy, and moved into Greenwood in April 2001. His wife, Dolores, died on July 9, 2003. He continued to reside in Greenwood until entering the Colonial Center, Colby, in 2005. He had many interests, but especially loved listening to old-time country music, looking for and finding arrowheads, farming, Fourth of July picnics with his family, food, collecting coins and bills, traveling, and picking berries.

He will be sadly missed by his four sons and their families: Richard, Loyal, and his children, Troy (Brenda) Thomas and Leanne (Gene) Oelrich; Pastor Dennis (Alta), Sioux Falls, S. D., and their children, Johanna Mueller, Naomi (Tyrone) Cox, and Matthew Thomas; Everett (Cheryl) Greenwood, and his children, Wayne (Tenille) Thomas, Steve (Kristy) Thomas, Glen (Jessica) Thomas and Loretta (Steve) Canfield; and LeRoy, Greenwood; 21 great-grandchildren; one brother, Robert (Phyllis) Thomas, Ellsworth; and one sister-in-law, Mary Thomas, Evansville.

Preceding him in death were his parents; his wife, Dolores; two sisters, Florence Thomas and Opal Noble; and three brothers, Lze, Oscar and Doyle Thomas.

Cuddie Funeral Home, Greenwood, assisted the family with arrangements.