Obituary of Kenneth Ray Thomas, Jr.

Funeral Services for Kenneth Ray Thomas, Jr. of Elsberry, MO will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, August 15, 2015 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Rev. Sam Byers, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Elsberry, will officiate with burial in the Elsberry City Cemetery near Elsberry. Serving as pallbearers will be Robert Thomas, David Thomas, Curtis Thomas, Ray Thomas, Mel Jones and Gilbert Riffle. Mr. Thomas, 79, passed away late Wednesday night, August 13, 2015 at his home. Born May 23, 1936 in Chattanooga, TN, he was the son of Kenneth Ray and Anna Mae Vaughn Thomas, Sr. Ken was united in marriage on May 16, 1954 in Chattanooga to Ruby Lee Burns. This union was blessed with six children: Robert, Kenneth, David, Wynette, Curtis and Ray. He served his country in the United States Navy from October 2, 1958 until he was honorably discharged on October 6, 1962. He then served in the Naval Reserves until June 18, 1968. Ken worked as an electrician for General Motors, where he was able to earn his GED and attend St. Charles Community College. He retired in 1996. Ken was a lifetime member of the Elsberry VFW Post #9064 and a former member of the New Hope Lodge #199 AF&AM in Elsberry. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ray and Anna Mae Thomas, Sr.; three siblings; one son, Kenny Thomas; two grandchildren: Tommy and Ann Marie; and his beloved wife of 51 years, Ruby Thomas, who died May 19, 2005. Survivors four sons: Robert Thomas and his wife, Cynthia, of Sylmar, CA, David Thomas, Curtis Thomas and his wife, Julie, and Ray Thomas, all of Elsberry; one daughter, Wynette Harper of Winfield, MO; thirteen grandchildren: Alex, Connor, Andrea, Morgan, Cynthia, Kenny, Crystal, Kathy, Tammy, Cindy, Elizabeth, Johnny and Melissa; and twelve great-grandchildren. Ken also leaves nine siblings; numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many, many friends. Visitation will be held from 10:00 a.m. until time of the service at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, August 15, 2015 at Carter-Ricks Funeral Home in Elsberry. Memorials may be made to Family of Ken Thomas in care of Carter-Ricks Funeral Home, 107 S. 5th Street; Elsberry, MO 63343.