John Richard "Dick" Thomas

John Richard "Dick" Thomas, 83, Gallipolis, Ohio, died at home Friday, January 21, 2005 following an extended illness. He was born in Gallipolis on June 27, 1921 to the late Richard Soloman and Dora Maude Moore Thomas. He married Dorothea Miller June 16, 1946 and she survives.

A 1940 graduate of Gallia Academy High School, Dick worked as a surveyor for Buckeye Electric Company the summer before he became a high school Senior. He then worked as a ship fitter at the Marietta Plant, Point Pleasant, West Virginia, where boats were built for the U.S. Government. Later, he worked at Morrison's and Fisher's Deartment Stores in Point Pleasant, before returning to Gallipolis to work at the Libby Hotel as a Clerk and Ticket Agent for the Greyhound Bus Station in the late 40's and early 50's.

He then joined the staff of the Gallipolis Daily Tribune as Circulation Manager and he also wrote sports articles. Next, he became the Gallipolis Correspondent for the Athens Messenger and was also in charge of local circulation. He then returned to Tribune as a General Reporter where he wrote a weekly column, "In Our Town" and also "50 years ago on the River." Again he returned to the Messenger, the Point Pleasant Office, until Paul Wagner named him the News Director of WJEH Radio. Following seventeen years service with the radio, he retired in 1988.

He accepted a part time job at the Tribune until 1990 when he permanently retired with thirty-seven years in news reporting and news related fields. Dick was a member of the Gallipolis and Point Pleasant Fire Department, an avid sports fan, and a Little League Baseball coach for 12 years.

Surviving are his wife of fifty-eight years, Dorothea Miller Thomas; daughter, Cheryl Ann Enyart, Gallipolis, Ohio; three sons: John (Pam) Richard Thomas Jr., Athens, Ohio; William Dean (Cindy) Thomas, Lancaster, Ohio and Nathan Bedford (Terri) Thomas Pickerington, Ohio; eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, James Dale Thomas; a half-sister, Dorothy; and a special son-in-law, James Enyart.

Dick was a member of Grace United Methodist Church where a Memorial service will be held Tuesday, January 21, 2005 at 11:00 AM with Rev. Robert Ingram and Rev. Barbara Jean Carriere officiating. There will be no calling hours. A private burial service for his cremains will be held at Gravel Hill Cemetery, Cheshire.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to:
Grace United Methodist Church
600 Second Ave
Gallipolis, OH 45631
or
Holzer Cancer Center
c/o Tom Gooch
100 Jackson Pike
Gallipolis, Ohio 45631
or
Holzer Hospice
100 Jackson Pike
Gallipolis, Ohio 45631

Arrangements are under the direction of McCoy-Moore Funeral Home, Wetherholt Chapel, 420 First Ave, Gallipolis, Ohio.