Arthur Thomas Jr. was the son of Arthur Thomas Sr. and Florence Glenn. Arthur Thomas Sr. was a son of Philemon Thomas and Martha Catherine Sparks.
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Sedan Times-Star – June 01, 2005
MR. ARTHUR THOMAS, JR.
SEDAN, Kan. – Arthur Thomas, Jr. 79, of Sedan, Kan., died Sunday night, May 29, 2005, at Sedan City Hospital.
He was born Dec. 20, 1925 at Pawhuska, Okla. to Arthur, Sr. and Florence Virginia (Glenn) Cross Thomas. He was raised in the Pawhuska area.
On Dec. 20, 1943, he married Juanita Lois Cables at Pawhuska. Following their marriage, they made their home in the Hula, Okla. area, where they were both employed at the Cross Bell Ranch. He was a ranch hand and she was a housekeeper in the main house.
He was a Veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Army as a Private with the 387th Infantry in the European Theatre. While serving in the Rhineland campaign, he was one of only seven survivors of a group of 48 Infantryman that crossed the Rhine River on a mission. He received an Honorable Discharge in 1945.
Following his discharge, he returned to Osage County, Okla., where he continued in his fathers’ footsteps as a cowboy. He worked for over 30 years on ranches in the Pawhuska area, including the famous Chapman-Barnard Ranch. In the mid 1950’s, they started a dairy in Pershing, Okla. When the venture did not work out as planned, they moved to Sedan in 1956, where he was employed by Tru-Flavor. Later they operated Art’s Conoco Service Station and also operated the last dairy in Sedan that bottled and delivered raw milk.
Later he moved his family to Ontario, Ore., where he bought and sold horses. They also lived in Picabo, Idaho, where he worked on the Crown Ranch. Art and his family made a two week trip to Chicago and ended up staying for four years. He worked for a Wire Company while they were there.
In 1969, Art moved his wife and family back to Chautauqua County, where they bought 80 acres between Sedan and Peru, and they raised hogs and registered dogs. He also worked at Jones Feed Store. During this time, he began a long career as an Auctioneer, operating Art’s Auction Service. His wife preceded him in death on Nov. 16, 1993. He retired from the Auction business shortly after his wife’s death and continued to make his home in Sedan…
In addition to his wife and parents, he was preceded in death by one son, Johnnie Lee Thomas, in 2002 and one grandson, Aaron Scott Thomas, in 2003.
Services will be at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, June 7, 2005, in the Ackarman Chapel, behind the First Christian Church. Burial will be in Greenwood Cemetery in Sedan. Friends may call on Monday, June 6, 2005, from 9-8 p.m. at David W. Barnes Funeral Home of Sedan is in charge of arrangements.
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