Rome Sentinel
October 27, 1985 
 
  Oneida - Richard H. Thomas, 62, of 511 Grand St., died Saturday morning in the Oneida City Hospital, 
shortly after admission, after suffering an apparent coronary attack at his home. 
 
  Mr. Thomas was born in Marcy (Town of) on February 27, 1923, the son of Charles and Eva Cannon Thomas.
Mr. Thomas was a resident of Oneida for the past 39 years. 
 
  Mr. Thomas married Margaret Delaney in Oneida on June 6, 1946. 
 
  Prior to his retirement, Mr. Thomas was employed in the Reproduction and Printing Department at 
Griffiss Air Force Base. A veteran of World War II, serving the the U.S. Army in Burma, he was a member 
of the famed "Merrill's Marauders," decorated with the Purple Heart. 
 
  Mr. Thomas was a communicant and head usher of St. Joseph's Church and a member of the church's Holy 
Name Society, a member and past commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Dean Cunningham Post 1312, a 
member of the Knights of Columbus, Oneida Council 473, and was a scoutmaster of the former Knights of 
Columbus-sponsored Boy Scout troop and cub master of the Broad Street Cub Scouts. 
 
  Surviving besides his wife are four sons; Gerard of Liverpool, Timothy of Torrance, Calif., and Daniel 
and Jeff, both of Oneida; one daughter Kathleen Thomas of Oneida; four brothers, Thomas of Long Beach, 
Calif., William of Walnut, Calif, and Edward and David Lloyd Thomas of Temple, Texas; five sisters, Mrs. 
Eugene (Margaret) White of Blossvale, Mrs. Maynard (Anna Belle) Rumble, of Glenfield, Mrs. Charles (Mary)
Andrews of Rome, Mrs. Jack (Sally) Sweeney of Rochester, Wash., and Mrs. Charles (Esther) Dauback of 
Rome; seven grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. 
 
  Funeral services will be held at 10:45 a.m. Tuesday from the Campbell-Dean Funeral Home, Inc., 260 Main
St., Oneida, and 11:30 a.m. from St. Joseph's Church, where a Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated
by the Rev. Stanley Szewczyk, pastor.  A sister, Mrs. Charles (Catherine) Hayes predeceased him and a 
brother, Robert Thomas was killed during World War II.  Interment will be made in St. Patrick's Cemetery.
Friends may call at the Funeral home, 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. Monday.  Contributions may be made to St. Joseph's
Memorial Development Fund.