Dolorin Carl 'D.C.' Thomas, age 80, was called home to be with his Lord and Savior on March 30, 2009. He was born on October 29, 1928 to C.O. and Sylvia Mae Thomas in Shawnee, Oklahoma. He lived his final months with the same dignity, courage, sense of humor and sharp wit that earned him the affection and esteem of all who knew him. After serving his country in World War II as a Corporal in the United States Army, D.C. attended the University of Oklahoma on the G.I. Bill and was president of his fraternity, Theta Xi. After graduating from O.U. and working as an insurance adjuster, he began his journey to becoming an attorney by attending OCU Law School, graduating in 1959 after 4 years of night study. D.C. was a member of the Oklahoma College of Trial Lawyers, the Oklahoma Criminal Defense Lawyers Association, and served as president of the Oklahoma County Bar Association. He was the recipient of The Clarence Darrow Award, The Lord Erskine Award and The Law and You Foundation Community Interest Award. He was a trial lawyer always and represented many citizens charged with crimes, including Tom Autry, Governor David Hall, Dan Kavanaugh of Manhattan Construction, Camille DeLoach, H. Russell Wright, Jr., Leon Hibbs, President of Southeastern University, Michael St. Clair (charged with double murder), William 'Bill' Anderson, Naresh Patel, M.D., and Insurance Commissioner Carroll Fisher in his Senate Impeachment Trial. In addition, D.C. successfully served as prosecutor of Judge Sam Sullivan when the Oklahoma Court of the Judiciary sought his removal, and secured the acquittal of Cleveland County District Judge Elvin Brown before the same court. He married Lillian 'Pat' Patterson on November 1, 1953. D.C. and Pat raised two daughters, Cathy and Sarah. D.C. was a talented musician playing the banjo, piano, guitar, mandolin and trombone. D.C. and Pat enjoyed listening to and playing Bluegrass, Country, and Dixieland Jazz music. D.C. formed the band the Bar Flys in 1967, playing for nursing homes, children's hospitals, County Bar events and just for fun. D.C. loved the annual deer and elk hunts in Colorado and the camaraderie of the poker games at night. He also enjoyed fishing at Toledo Bend, in Canada, and the lakes and farm ponds across Oklahoma.

D.C. was preceded in death by his father, mother, and 5 sisters. He is survived by his wife Pat; his daughters Cathy Thomas and Sarah Reynolds; son-in-law Sundance Reynolds; brother Kieth Thomas of Austin, Texas; nephew Kieth Thomas, Jr. of Oklahoma City; niece Christina Tornquist of Edmond; and his beloved cat, Looper. A special thank you to the wonderful staff at Bellevue Nursing Center, as well as Centennial Hospice.

A viewing will be held at Memorial Park Cemetery, 13313 N. Kelley, Edmond, on Friday, April 3, 2009, from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., followed by a memorial service to celebrate D.C.'s life at 2:00 p.m.

... Complied and transcribed by Marti Graham, 2009.