Robert E. Thomas

Robert E. Thomas, 79, of Bradenton, Fla., died Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2005, at Hospice Inpatient Facility, in Columbus. Born Dec. 2, 1925, in Freeport, he was the son of the late Samuel Nail and Helen (Facemire) Thomas. He married Norma Peck on Sept. 15, 1946, and she preceded him in death on Feb. 2, 1996. He married Arlene Gay on July 5, 1997, and she survives. Other survivors include one daughter, Nisha (husband, Charles) Warfuel of Muncie; three stepsons, Ronald Bird of Carenco, La., Stephen Bird of Freewater, Ore., and Edward Bird of Waldron; one stepdaughter, Sandra Gorden of Morgantown; one sister, Patricia (husband, Floyd) Montgomery of Waldron; two grandchildren, Mandi Warfuel of Phoenix, Ariz., and Rob Warfuel of Terre Haute; and 13 stepgrandchildren. Mr. Thomas was a lifelong Shelby County resident. He retired in 1995 from Franklin Life Insurance, where he was a regional agent for 40 years. Prior to that he worked at the former Shelby National Bank and the former Decatur County Bank, in Greensburg. Mr. Thomas graduated in 1943 from Fairland High School. He was a U.S. Navy veteran, serving in World War II. Mr. Thomas was a member of First Christian Church, Shelbyville Lions Club, Kiwanis Club, Elks Lodge, Jaycees, Eagles Lodge, Blue Lodge in Fairland, Murat Shrine in Indianapolis, Indianapolis Fly Casters, American Legion and Sahib Shrine in Sarasota, Fla. He also had been president of Shelby County Chamber of Commerce for two years and served on the board of directors of Shelby County Savings Bank and Shelby County Red Cross. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Freeman Family Funeral Homes, Carmony-Ewing Harrison Street Chapel, 819 S. Harrison St. Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Friday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Cliff Bunch officiating. Interment will be in Forest Hill Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of Shelby County, 110 S. Harrison St., Shelbyville, IN 46176; or Hospice Inpatient Facility, 2626 E. 17th St., Columbus, IN 47201. Online condolences can be sent to www.carmony-ewing.com.