Viron C. Thomas
August 9, 1919 ~ August 14, 2007
Thomas, Viron Charles, 88, died August 14, 2007, doing what he loved, playing golf with his son and grandson. He was born on August 9, 1919, in Oneonta, New York, the son of Charles and Mae Thomas, brother to his sister Beatrice Vrooman of Florida, and his brother; the late Jimmy Thomas of West Palm Beach, FL. Viron was married to Martha A. Ritter/Thomas who preceded him in passing in March of 2006. They had been married for sixty-three years. Mr. Thomas attended Oneonta, NY High School and Middlebury College in Vermont, where he studied French and played football, and was a member of Kappa Delta Rho fraternity. He began his working career with International Business Machines in Providence, RI. He served five years in WWII as an Officer/Captain in the 16th Company A Medical Regiment. He was awarded both the American Service Medal and the WWII Victory Medal. After the war, he continued with IBM for over thirty years in Providence, RI, Schenectady and Albany, NY, Akron, OH, and Wichita, KS. Later he became the branch manager of Simplex Time Recorder Company, and then transferred to Kansas City, residing in Leawood, KS, where he and Martha lived for over thirty years. Mr. Thomas was a member of Nativity Church in Leawood where he established the Golden Jubilee Society and was a member of the Serra Club. He was a president and early founder of the Leawood South Country Club. Returning to Wichita one year ago, he became a member of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish. He was an avid golfer, world traveler, learned and devoted father, grandfather. He is survived by his children; John Charles Thomas of Minneapolis, MN, Diane Thomas (Gary) Lincoln of Wichita, KS, and Gregory (Sosse) Thomas of Lawrence, KS; grandchildren, John F. Thomas, Anne E. Thomas and Shant Thomas. He leaves many devoted nephews, nieces and relatives. A funeral mass for “Tommy” will be at 10:00 A.M., September 8, 2007, at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Salina, KS. His body will be laid to rest next to his beloved Martha, at Marymount, Calvary Cemetery, Salina, KS. A memorial in the name of Viron and Martha Thomas may be made to the University of Kansas Research Center, KU Endowment Association, 3901 Rainbow Blvd. MS-3012, Kansas City, KS, 66160. Downing Lahey East Mortuary
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Viron Charles Thomas In memory of Viron Charles Thomas. For several years since the opening of the Ironhorse Golf Club, Leawood, Kansas, Viron (Fondly called ‘Tommy’ by the marshals and staff) was a volunteer marshal after his retirement. He will be remembered and respected as a kind gentleman, congenial, of humorous wit, a good friend, and a good natured golf partner and associate to all of us that had the pleasure of knowing and associating with him. We also had the pleasure of knowing his lovely wife Martha who attended the social gatherings with him. Tommy frequently and proudly spoke of his family. He was the kind of person that in his departure leaves a void to those who knew him but leaves the feeling that it was a pleasure to have been able to share a part of his life. The marshals and club staff wish to give our kind condolences to Tommy’s family. Tom Davidson, Leo Goetsch, Dick Gunn, Pete Hamlin, Jim Hillstrom, Ron Riner, Ron Howitt, Tony Martini, Ray Smith, Roy Meeker, Gene Ratliff, Ray Roberts, Jim Walker, Bob VanLandingham , Jim Woods, Bob Conway, Wendall Lady, Bob Lange, Bill Nelson, Ulyses Wright, Ed Boswell, Julia Roberts, Matt Roberts, Austin Landreth, Shane Gardner