Bobbie Thomas

Bobbie Bob Thomas, resident of Ponca City, passed July 21, 2009 at the Newkirk Nursing Center. He was 82. Bobbie was born on October 14, 1926 near Binger, Oklahoma, the son of Norman Thomas and Clesta Fleting Thomas. He was raised on a cotton farm near Binger. His early schooling was in the Binger area schools. He entered the United States Navy on July 1, 1944, serving in the South Pacific. He was attached to Navy Seals during World War II and had served on the USS Pitt and USS McCracken. He was honorably discharged from the Navy on May 29, 1946. He was married to Mary Ann Bennett on January 15, 1949 at Santa Ana, California. He was employed with the Orange County Register Newspaper of Santa Ana for 41 years as a master computer tech, retiring in 1992. The couple moved to Ponca City in 1994 to help in the care of Bobbies ailing mother. His enjoyments included fishing and camping in the High Sierras, traveling throughout the Mid-Western and Western States. He was a sports fan, especially of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team and the OU and Southern Cal football teams. In earlier years the couple enjoyed walking. Bobbie is survived by his wife, Mary Ann, of the home; two sons, Terry Thomas, Ontario, California and Allen Thomas, Menifee, California; two daughters, Suzanne Mamedalin, Weed, California and Karla Wells, Upland, California; one brother, Rollan Thomas, Springport, Michigan; three sisters, Esta Kirk, Ponca City, Delores Rolph, Santa Ana, California and Ruby Koellisch, Corona, California; seven grandchildren; other extended family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Norman Thomas and Clay Thomas. A visitation for family and friends will be held at Grace Memorial Chapel from 7 to 8 p.m. on Tuesday, July 28, 2009. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 29, 2009 at Grace Memorial Chapel with Hospice of North Central Oklahoma Chaplain, Mike Sweetman presiding. Interment will be in Resthaven Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Grace Memorial Chapel. Memorial contributions may be name to Hospice of North Central Oklahoma, 1904 North Union, Suite 103, Ponca City, Oklahoma 74601.