Hosea Thomas

WEST FRANKFORT, Ill. -- Hosea Auburn Thomas, 84, of West Frankfort died Friday, Aug. 5, 2005, at Heartland Regional Medical Center in Marion, Ill.

He was born Dec. 23, 1920, in Hamilton County, Ill., son of William C. and Etta Engram Thomas. He and Jylonda Irene Murphy were married May 29, 1945.

Thomas retired from Old Ben Coal Co. in 1983. He was a member of Caldwell Baptist Church in Benton, Ill.

He was a veteran of World War II, serving as a technical sergeant in the U.S. Army with Merrill's Marauders in Burma.

Survivors include his wife; five sons, Hosea Jr., Ervin and Mike Thomas, all of West Frankfort, Stacy Thomas of Anna, Ill., Tracy Thomas of Lincoln, Ill.; two daughters, Terry Trotter of West Frankfort, Janet Wilson of Orient, Ill.; two sisters, Anna Melvin of West Frankfort, Hazel Gunter of Deming, N.M.; 23 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by four sisters, four brothers and a great-grandchild.

Friends may call at Parker-Reedy Funeral Home in West Frankfort from 5 to 8 p.m. Sunday.

The funeral will be at 11 a.m. Monday at the funeral home, with Tracy Thomas officiating. Burial will be in Tower Heights Cemetery in West Frankfort, with military rites by Orient Legion Post 1961 and West Frankfort VFW.