William "Bill" Thomas, 88, of Denton, died Thursday, March 24, 2016 at Senior Care Rehabilitation and Nursing in Denton.
Mr. Thomas was born on May 11, 1927 in Elkton, KY to Larkin Rueben and Ethel Mae (Stinson) Thomas. He served in the United States Army during WWII. He was married to Janie DeLapp on November 11, 1951 in Gainesville, TX.
Bill and his son, Craig, co-owned Thomas' Ethan Allen Interiors on the square in Denton for 54 years. Bill always stayed active in the Denton community which included being past DISD Board of Education member from 1976 to 1988, serving as president for two years; Optimist Club with distinguished past president designation; director of Denton Boys Baseball Inc. from 1965 to 1975 and serving as president for four years; YMCA director in 1970-1971; Emily Fowler Public Library board member from 1969 to 1973; chairman of the Downtown Denton Advisory Board from 1992 to 1996; member of the Denton Holiday Festival Association from 1994 to 1996; member of the Denton Vision 2000; United Way Budget and Means committee member from 1973 to 1974; member of Fairhaven Board of Trustees from 1994 to 2000; member of the Cumberland Children's Home board of trustees from 1978 to 1996, serving as president for nine years; Denton Chamber of Commerce director in 1969-70 and 1973-74; chairman of the commercial division for the chamber of commerce in 1972-73; secretary of the executive committee for the chamber of commerce in 1970-70; Otis Fowler Award 1998; director of Home Furnishing International for 1971-72; member of the administrative board for the First United Methodist Church; Head Usher for the 11AM service for 20 years; served as president of the Denton Main Street Association; member of the board of directors of Hope Inc.; served on the Denton Public School Foundation board and recently honored as a lifetime member.
He is survived by his wife Janie Thomas of Denton, sons, Craig Thomas and wife Jo Lorraine of Denton, Scott Thomas of Denton; grandchildren, Lindsey Marie Wynn and her husband Dustin, Nadalee Lorraine Daves and her husband Clark; great-grandchildren, Grayson Wynn, Hagen Wynn, Kolbie Daves, and Halston Daves. He was preceded in death by his sister, Annie Hampton and an infant sister and a granddaughter, Brittany Thomas.
A visitation will be held from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Tuesday, March 29, 2016 at Mulkey-Mason Funeral Home, 705 North Locust Street, Denton. A funeral service will be held at 2:00 PM Wednesday, 30, 2016 at First United Methodist Church, 201 South Locust Street, Denton. Interment will follow at Roselawn Memorial Park.
Memorials may be made to the Music Fund at First United Methodist Church; the Cumberland Presbyterian Children's Home and the Denton Public School Foundation.