Richard Earl Thomas
July 17, 1932 — September 2, 2024
Richard Earl Thomas, 92, of Mount Vernon, Iowa, formerly of Perry, Iowa, died on Monday, September 2, 2024, at St. Luke’s Transitional Care Center in Cedar Rapids. A visitation will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. on Monday, September 9, 2024, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids. A funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. Graveside services will be held on Tuesday, September 10, 2024, at 11:30 a.m., west of Dawson, Iowa, at the Dallas Township Cemetery. Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service of Marion is assisting the family.
Richard was born on July 17, 1932, in Cantril, Iowa, the son of Herbert Franklin and Edna Mary (Alexander) Thomas. After graduating from Fox Valley High School in Milton, Iowa in 1950, he honorably served in the United States Army, stationed in Germany from 1952 – 1954. He married Arlene Bernice Lewis on May 20, 1953, in Pocahontas, AR. Together they had two daughters, Deanna Jo and Delores Jean. Arlene died in 1977, and he later married Betty Jean Bandy (Hougham) in 1981 in Perry, Iowa.
In Perry, he was employed by Farmers Hybrid Seed Corn Company and later worked for Meadow Gold. He retired from Meadow Gold in 1994. He enjoyed attending horse events with his daughter and being her biggest supporter at her beck and call. He and Betty enjoyed travel and camping before Betty’s death in 1994. In later years he enjoyed traveling with his significant other, Doris Bennett, including nightly phone calls for the last several years.
In 2002 he moved to Mt. Vernon, Iowa there he spent his remaining years living on the farm with his daughter Deanna and son-in-law Randy Lagos. He was an avid reader, loved his dogs (Dessa and Violet) and loved western movies. He did not enjoy the company of Leonard, the goat. He was a member of the Church of Latter-Day Saints in Mt. Vernon and Cedar Rapids.
Richard is survived by his daughter, Deanna (Randy) Lagos; step-son Scott (Michelle) Bandy, grandson Tyler (Nina) Brott, step-grandson Travis Brott, step-grandson Tim (Keria) Lagos, step-grandson Pat Lagos, step-grandson Aaron Bandy, great-granddaughter Faith (Andrew Stevenson) Brott, great-grandson Gavin Sevey, great-granddaughter Joy Brott, great-great-grandson Stevenson (Faith and Andrew’s son in progress), brother-in-law Vernon (Joy) McCormick, nephew Jim McCormick, niece Molly McCormick, nephew John (Tara) Frankenberg, nephew Mike (Tera) Frankenberg, nephew Steve (Brenda) Thomas, nephew Paul Dean Thomas, niece Jean Schwieger, niece Teresa (Earl) Broseh, cousin Charles (Shirley Anne) Sheets, cousin Jim (Heather) Sheets, cousin Paul (Jane) Wells, cousin Linda (Larry) Sheets and many more extended family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Herbert and Edna Thomas, his brother, Cleo Thomas, his infant daughter Delores in 1956, his first wife Arlene, his second wife, Betty, brother-in-law Lester Lewis, stepsons Ron and Tracy Bandy, step-grandson Nathaniel Bandy.
Memorials in Richard’s memory may be directed to Cedar Valley Humane Society.
Richard was born on July 17, 1932, in Cantril, Iowa, the son of Herbert Franklin and Edna Mary (Alexander) Thomas. After graduating from Fox Valley High School in Milton, Iowa in 1950, he honorably served in the United States Army, stationed in Germany from 1952 – 1954. He married Arlene Bernice Lewis on May 20, 1953, in Pocahontas, AR. Together they had two daughters, Deanna Jo and Delores Jean. Arlene died in 1977, and he later married Betty Jean Bandy (Hougham) in 1981 in Perry, Iowa.
In Perry, he was employed by Farmers Hybrid Seed Corn Company and later worked for Meadow Gold. He retired from Meadow Gold in 1994. He enjoyed attending horse events with his daughter and being her biggest supporter at her beck and call. He and Betty enjoyed travel and camping before Betty’s death in 1994. In later years he enjoyed traveling with his significant other, Doris Bennett, including nightly phone calls for the last several years.
In 2002 he moved to Mt. Vernon, Iowa there he spent his remaining years living on the farm with his daughter Deanna and son-in-law Randy Lagos. He was an avid reader, loved his dogs (Dessa and Violet) and loved western movies. He did not enjoy the company of Leonard, the goat. He was a member of the Church of Latter-Day Saints in Mt. Vernon and Cedar Rapids.
Richard is survived by his daughter, Deanna (Randy) Lagos; step-son Scott (Michelle) Bandy, grandson Tyler (Nina) Brott, step-grandson Travis Brott, step-grandson Tim (Keria) Lagos, step-grandson Pat Lagos, step-grandson Aaron Bandy, great-granddaughter Faith (Andrew Stevenson) Brott, great-grandson Gavin Sevey, great-granddaughter Joy Brott, great-great-grandson Stevenson (Faith and Andrew’s son in progress), brother-in-law Vernon (Joy) McCormick, nephew Jim McCormick, niece Molly McCormick, nephew John (Tara) Frankenberg, nephew Mike (Tera) Frankenberg, nephew Steve (Brenda) Thomas, nephew Paul Dean Thomas, niece Jean Schwieger, niece Teresa (Earl) Broseh, cousin Charles (Shirley Anne) Sheets, cousin Jim (Heather) Sheets, cousin Paul (Jane) Wells, cousin Linda (Larry) Sheets and many more extended family.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Herbert and Edna Thomas, his brother, Cleo Thomas, his infant daughter Delores in 1956, his first wife Arlene, his second wife, Betty, brother-in-law Lester Lewis, stepsons Ron and Tracy Bandy, step-grandson Nathaniel Bandy.
Memorials in Richard’s memory may be directed to Cedar Valley Humane Society.
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