Velton Earl Thomas Obituary (1926 - 2019)

Velton Earl Thomas, age 92, passed away peacefully in Oklahoma City on Friday, January 18th, 2019, crossing the finish line entering Heaven. There he was greeted in part by his loving wife of 54 years Lois, along with countless relatives and friends such at Brother Post, his brother Don Thomas, B.D. Moore, Wally, Hoot, and many others. Earl was born on June 6, 1926, in Barton County Missouri. Raised on a farm, Earl grew up learning the value of hard work, which he did very successfully during his career. He served in the Army during the final days of WWII as a young man. Coming home to marry Lois and start their family a few years later, Earl was a great father to his three daughters first and foremost. He worked hard to provide for them, working for the Tulsa newspaper, owning a gas station, and then owning Earl's Lawn and Leisure John Deere dealership for many years in Sand Springs. Earl always had grease on his hands and a smile on his face. He was a generous person. Earl was very kind, and fun, with a sense of humor and wit that has been carried on through many of his grandkids it seems. Earl was a follower of Christ, with church at the center of the Thomas family. He was a Deacon at Glenwood Baptist Church, where they raised their daughters. People loved Earl, and he loved them. Sundays, along with Wednesday nights, were spent in church at Glenwood, developing friendships that lasted for many years. Those faithful times produced and are still producing many legacies through his daughters and their families. Later on in life Earl and Lois became part of a new church plant outside of Sand Springs at Keystone Hills Baptist Church, where he attended faithfully until his health did not allow him to. Earl was well cared for by his daughters and family after losing his wife eight years ago, along with good folks at Greentree Assisted Living, Woodland Hills Assisted Living, and finally at Story Oaks in Oklahoma City these final two months. While he is probably riding a tractor in heaven and working at something, he will be missed here. Earl is survived by Becky and Brad Johnson of Tulsa, Jo and Bill Ahrberg of Cushing, and Jan and Buddy Nicholas of Enid. Earl loved his 10 grandkids; Will, Emily, Barrett, Anna-Marie, Jake, Luke, Katie, Natalie, Nic, and Elizabeth. Earl also loved his 12 great-grandchildren with one more coming very soon. We are all blessed to share our lives with Earl over the past many years, and hope to continue the legacies he passed down to us. Service will be held at Keystone Hills Baptist Church, 161 New Prue Rd west of Sand Springs, at 1:30 on Friday, 1-25. Funeral arrangements are through Dillon Funeral Service in Sand Springs. In lieu of flowers, please send memorials to Keystone Hills Baptist Church or Folds of Honor.