Kenneth B Thomas

Kenneth B. Thomas, 87, of Parkersburg, W.Va., passed away on Oct. 17, 2012 at Camden Clark Medical Center, St. Joseph's Campus.He was born Nov. 22, 1924, in Parkersburg, a son of the late Leonard and Minnie Hupp Thomas.Kenneth was a 1942 graduate of Parkersburg High School and a graduate of Mountain State Business College.He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1942 and served with the 8th Air Corp in England with a total of 29 months in the European Theater of Operations.He retired on January 1, 1987 after 35 years of combined service with Union Carbide Corp. and Elkem Metal Co. Prior to returning to Parkersburg, Kenneth and his family lived in Ashtabula, Ohio from 1968-1985.At the time of retirement he was Manager of Corporate Labor Relations for Elkem Metal Co.He was a member of South Parkersburg United Methodist Church, South Hills Golf Club, and Fraternal Order of Eagles.He belonged to Mt. Olivet Blue Lodge #3, Parkersburg, Royal Arch Masons #141, Jefferson, Ohio, Cache Commandery #27, Conneaut, Ohio, a lifetime member of Royal & Select Masons of Ohio Council #40, Conneaut, Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Valley of Cleveland, and Nemesis Temple A.A.O.N.M.S., Parkersburg.He was active in the Boy Scouts of America, formerly Assistant Scout Master Troup 17, Explorer Advisor, Post 17 and Institutional Representative for Scouting Program at South Parkersburg United Methodist Church.He coached Little League and Pony League baseball and participated in fast pitch softball for many years.In addition to his parents, Kenneth was preceded in death by his first wife, Evelyn Hardman Thomas; infant daughter, Barbara; his wife of 44 years, Glenna Rymer Thomas; two sisters, Eleanor Rousseau and Omagene Hoffman; and two brothers, Carl Ray Thomas and Herschel Thomas.He is survived by his three children, Rebecca Tracy (Bill) of Hilton Head Island, S.C., Benjamin H. Thomas (Connie) of Marietta, Ohio and Pamela Wensing (Dan) of Wickliffe, Ohio; five grandchildren, Jeremy J. Thomas of Marietta, Ohio, Mackenzie Marie Tracy Strauss (Peter) of Hilton Head, S.C., Sean Thomas Tracy (Brittany) of Hilton Head, S.C., Patrick Wensing of Columbus, Ohio and Robert Wensing of Champaign, Ill.; his sister-in-law, Wilma Rymer of Charleston, S.C.; special and caring friends, Virginia Florence, John D. and Marge Lyons, and Mildred Jackson; and many loving nieces and nephews.Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, October, 20, at South Parkersburg United Methodist Church with Pastor Rick Brown officiating.Interment will follow at Evergreen South Cemetery with full Military Rites by the American Legion Post 15 and full Masonic Rites. Visitation will be from 5-8 P.M. Friday, October 19, at Lambert-Tatman Funeral Home, Pike St., south Parkersburg.Memorials may be made to South Parkersburg United Methodist Church, Building Fund, in memory of Kenneth B. Thomas.An online guestbook will be available at www.lamberttatman.com.