Paul Richard Thomas' Obituary
Paul Richard Thomas, 77, of Chanute, passed away Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at the Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center in Chanute.
Paul was born June 9, 1936 in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was the son of Marcus and Ruby Thomas. He graduated high school from Spencer, Indiana in 1954. He was in the Air Force at Forbes base in Topeka, KS, and then he graduated from Washburn University with a Bachelor of Science in Social Work in 1963. He then graduated from George Brown School of Social Work with a Master’s degree in 1965. After graduation he worked for 3 years as a Social Worker for the State of Kansas.
Paul married Barbara Jane Sixta on June 20th, 1965 in Spencer, Iowa. She survives, of the home. They moved to Chanute and made it their home in 1966. He began working for the State of Kansas as a social worker. In January of 1969, he became the Administrator for the Southeast Kansas Mental Health Center, where he worked for 24 years. Upon leaving there, he worked at Neosho Memorial Regional Medical Center for 5 years, then at Allen County Hospital for 3 years.
Paul was an active member of the Lion’s Club for 40 years as well as an active member of the Zion Lutheran Church in Chanute.
Paul loved to garden, he also loved spending time with his grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife Barbara; a son, Steven Douglas Thomas and wife Melissa of Lenexa, KS; a daughter Ellen Marie Jones and husband Ray of Blue Springs, Missouri; a sister, Barbara Emerson of Florida; a brother, Stanley Thomas of Indiana; 10 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.
Cremation has taken place.
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