Samuel Thomas

MARION - Samuel Staley Thomas, 95, passed away at 4:15 a.m. Sunday, May 12, 2013, in VA Medical Center in Marion. Samuel was born in Mount Vernon, Ind., the son of Arch LeRoy and Iva Beulah (Lockwood) Thomas. He married Virginia Shelby Hoy on April 26, 1941, in Clayton, Mo. He served in the U.S. Army-Air force as Corporal. Samuel was a farmer in south Indiana. He moved to Chicago and spent 32 years working for Illinois Central Railroad Commuter Service. He loved living at Lake of Egypt since 1979 and he retired where he wanted to. He was known as "good neighbor Sam." He will be greatly missed by all. Survivors include children, Carol and Jerome Pawlak and Linda Thomas; grandchildren, Joseph and Inda Pawlak, Jennifer and Scott Link and Jocelyn and Steve Michaelis; and great-grandchildren, Anika Pawlak, Jerome Pawlak and Alana Michaelis. Samuel was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Virginia; four brothers; and two sisters. Services will be at noon today, May 17, in Goreville United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Tim Woodard officiating. Burial will be in Bethlehem Cemetery in Tunnel Hill. Visitation will be at 10 a.m. today at the church. For those who prefer, memorials may be made to St. Jude's Children Research Hospital or Shriners Hospital for Children in Cincinnati. Blue Funeral Home in Goreville is in charge of arrangements.