Obituary: Lieut. Arthur M. Thomas
Submitted by Karen Reaves Moss, 948 Vintage Drive, Kenner, LA 70065 
**********************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm
**********************************************


 


(From the January 4, 1943, Winn Parish Enterprise)


Last Rites Will Be Held Saturday for Lieut. Thomas

Funeral services for Lieut. Arthur Moran (Buddy) Thomas, 24, who was killed in
an airplane crash Sunday, will be held at the First Methodist Church,
Winnfield, Saturday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock, with the Rev. Alvin Stokes,
local Presbyterian minister, officiating.  Assisting in the services will be
Rev. H. B. Hysell, pastor.  Interment will follow in the Winnfield cemetery.

The remains of Lieut. Thomas are expected to arrive in Winnfield Friday
afternoon at 4 o'clock via Rock Island.  The body will be carried to the
family home in Atlanta where it will remain until Saturday at 2 p.m.

Lieut. Thomas was killed Jan 24, with 10 other men from the Alamogordo, NM air
base when a B-24 bomber crashed in the Albino wastes White Sands National
monument several miles west of the base.

His wife and parents, Mr. and Mrs. K. A. Thomas of Atlanta were informed of
his death Tuesday in a telegram from the base.

Thomas received his wings and commission as second lieutenant Jan 4 at
Stockton Field, Calif.  He began his training in the Army Air Forces April 16,
1942, but he had been an experienced flier for several years before enlisting
in the air corps.  He operated his own plane for some time from the Winnfield
airport until the plane was damaged by fire.

Before entering service he was associated in business with his father and
uncle who own the Thomas Lumber Company of Winnfield.

He is survived by his wife, the former Miss Aline Majorie Bonnette, of
Atlanta; his parents, one sister, Virginia Ruth Thomas, and one brother,
Tommy, all of Atlanta; four aunts, Mrs. Bertha Tillman, Mrs. Florence Hall of
Kelly; Mrs. C.O. Holland, of Atlanta, Mrs. E.L. Bufkin of Ellsabeth; six
uncles, L. R. Thomas of Winnfield, C.P. Thomas, White Sulpher Springs, Grady
Smith and Brian Smith, of Houston, Texas, L.M. Smith of Verda and J.L. Smith
of Darnell.



(Submitted by Karen Reaves Moss, 948 Vintage Drive, Kenner, LA 70065,
RosyRoja@aol.com)