Charles Richard Thomas, 93, North Manchester, Indiana, went to be with the Lord on July 8, 2019 at 5:47 p.m. at Visiting Nurse & Hospice Home, Fort Wayne, Indiana. One of nine children, Dick was born November 1, 1925 in Center Township, Indiana, to Jonathan Ora and Kessie (Ealy) Thomas.
He married Loretta May Curtis. She passed away on September 26, 1993. He later married Geraldine M. “Gerri” Gidley on October 28, 1995. They were married for almost 19 years before she passed away August 18, 2014.
Dick served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Once returning home, Dick was a self-made man that followed in the footsteps of Jesus. He built an auction house in Muncie, Indiana, called The East Way Auction where he and his brother were auctioneers for five years. He later owned and operated a gas station that expanded into a grocery store for 25+ years called Thomas Milk House, Produce, and Grocery located in Peru, Indiana with a secondary location in Wabash, Indiana. He was an accomplished farmer that grew his own fruits and vegetables for the store. Dick had a deep passion and seriousness for fishing and created many of his own fishing lures. In the center of Dick’s life, was a call of faith and ministry. He produced a television ministry called Seeds of Growth that aired on Christian T.V. stations during the primetime hours. He was also an accomplished poet that published a book of poems called Seeds of Growth poems. He was also a song leader at a plethora of churches. Dick later attended the Manchester Bible Church in North Manchester, Indiana. Dick had a large heart and this could be shown through his volunteering at hospice homes for three years.
Dick will be remembered by his sons, Timothy Thomas, Peru, Indiana, Rodney (Nancy McMillan) Thomas, Albuquerque, New Mexico; two daughters, Linda (Leonard) Andersson, Mesa, Arizona, Sherry (Larry) Hawks, Kokomo, Indiana; one step-son Jon (Jerry) Gidley, South Whitley, Indiana; two step-daughters, Janice (John) Campbell, West Lafayette, Indiana, Barbara (David) Patterson, Atlanta, Georgia; two brothers Larry (Julianne) Thomas, Muncie, Indiana, Bill Thomas, New Jersey; six grandchildren, four step-grandchildren, nine great grandchildren, ten step-great grandchildren, and eight step great great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, his second wife, four brothers, and two sisters.
Friends and family may call Thursday, July 11, 2019 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at McKee Mortuary, 1401 State Road 114 West, North Manchester, Indiana. Funeral services will begin at the conclusion of calling. Pastor Paul Sutherland will officiate and burial will be held at Mount Hope Cemetery, 411 Grant Street, Peru, Indiana 46970.
For those who wish to honor the memory of Dick, memorial contributions may be made to, Visiting Nurse and Hospice Home, 5910 Homestead Road, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46814.
Arrangements are entrusted to McKee Mortuary.