Paul Thomas was born to Corneal and Leona (Kane) Thomas on December 27, 1923 on a farm Northwest of Ringwood, Oklahoma.
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He attended his first eight years at Riverside country school and then had the special privilege of attending and graduating from Oklahoma Bible Academy. After graduating high school, he started farming at his dad’s request. He was one of four children, Frank, Grace, Paul, and Leo. The Lord has called all the siblings to their Heavenly home. They were all pastors, teachers, and a pastor’s wife. Paul grew up in a household that sang. He sang with his dad and siblings, a men’s quartet from OBA as well as his father-in-law Ben Schmidt, and brothers-in-law, Vernon, and Kenneth Schmidt.
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He loved music, playing the harmonica, accordion, and autoharp. Paul accepted the Lord at a young age and always said “my parents prayers brought me through serious illnesses such as diphtheria as a child and rheumatic fever while in the service. He had the privilege of being a Sunday School teacher, leading the church in different offices such as Board Chairman and church treasurer for many years. He was also an officer with the Gideons. Throughout their life, Paul and Verda Mae supported missions, not only financially but by showing hospitality to missionaries throughout the world. Besides farming, he enjoyed driving heavy equipment working for Major County, maintaining the roads. He also built oil lease pads for Earl Jantzen. One unique contributions he made was to do all the dirt work for the old drag strip because of his excellent eye for elevation.
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Paul leaves behind his wife of 72 years, Verda Mae (Schmidt) Thomas, a son Mark Thomas married to Karen and daughter Paula Cellamare married to Alan. He has 5 grandchildren Carrie White, Tara Alexander, Anna-Marie (Cecil Brandon), Adam (Kady) Cellamare and Benjamin (Melissa) Cellamare and 5 great grandchildren Noah, Mykah, Mya, Carrie, and Maximus.
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Funeral services will be held on Friday, May 4, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. in New Hopedale Mennonite Church in Meno. Committal prayers and interment will follow in West New Hopedale Cemetery, Ringwood, under the kind guidance of the Amy Stittsworth Funeral Service. A family, meet and greet will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Thursday evening, May 3, 2018 at the Indian Creek Village Winery Chapel, previously known as West New Hopedale Church (52 County Road 640, Ringwood).
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All memorial gifts can be directed to either the Gideons International or Oklahoma Bible Academy in Enid, Oklahoma.
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Remembrances may be shared online at www.stittsworthfuneralservices.com.
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