Walter R. Thomas

Walter R. Thomas, 99, formerly of Russiaville, passed away on Thursday, July 11, 2019 at the Autumn Woods Health Campus, New Albany. For the past three years, he lived with his daughter and son-in-law Judith Ann and Charles Aigner in Columbus, and recently moved with the family to Jeffersonville. Born on January 25, 1920 in Cowden, Illinois, he was the son of Milo Estel and Ona Pearl Groves Thomas who preceded him in death. On April 6, 1947, he married Helen Warden who passed away March 24, 2014.

Walter was a 1937 graduate of West Middleton High School. He was a veteran of WWII who served in the U.S. Army as an ambulance driver in Company A, 47th Armored Medical Battalion, 1st Armored Division in the North African and Italian campaigns from 1941 to 1945. He was honorably discharged with the rank of Corporal, 28 July 1945. He was a member and past president of the 1st Armored Division Association and attended their annual reunions since 1986. Walter was a 40-year employee of Chrysler Corp in Kokomo retiring in 1986. He was active in the Courtland Avenue Friends Church where he taught Sunday school for 40 years and where he and Helen served as youth group sponsors for many years. He served on the boards of Western Yearly Meeting and Quaker Haven Camp. Walter also served as Western High School Band Parents Assn. president in the late 1960s.

Survivors include his 2 daughters, Nancy L. (Hyman) Brown of Jerusalem, Israel, and Judith Ann (Charles) Aigner of Jeffersonville, IN; 2 grandchildren, Tom (Allison) Aigner of Douglas, MA, and Rachel (Matt) Lewellyn of New Albany, IN; 3 step-grandchildren, Melissa (Kurt) Dittus of Vancouver, WA, Jason (Audrey) Brown of Easton, PA, and Brian (Daniella) Brown of Annapolis, MD; five great-grandchildren, Avagail and Arielle Aigner, Levi and Meara Lewellyn, and 1 foster great-granddaughter; and several nieces and nephews.

The third oldest of 13 children, 12 brothers and sisters preceded him in death.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm Tuesday July 16, 2019, at Stout & Son Funeral Home, 200 E. Main Street, Russiaville, with Rev. Charles Aigner officiating. Burial will follow in New London Cemetery with military honors provided by the United States Army and the Kokomo VFW Military Rites Team. Friends may call upon the family from 4 to 8 pm on Monday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Quaker Haven Camp (www.quakerhaven.com).  Messages of condolences may be left online at www.stoutandson.com.

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