William H. Thomas, 12 February 1866

WM. H. THOMAS DEATH SHOCKS WHOLE VALLEY; FORMER SECOND WARD BISHOP CLOSES ACTIVE LIFE SPAN; FUNERAL SET FOR SATURDAY

It was a sad shock to the people of this community to learn of the sudden death of Bishop Wm. H. Thomas, which occurred at his home on North Main, Tuesday, November 1, 1932.

Mr. Thomas leaves his wife, Mrs. Annie R. Thomas, four of seven children: W.H. Thomas, Jr. of Ogden; Mrs. Ruth Rose of Salt Lake; Mrs. Katherine Zabriskie of Ogden; and T. Paul Thomas of Driggs, ID; one brother and one sister, Mr. L.M. Thomas and Mrs. John T. Owens, both of Malad, and several grandchildren.

He was born at Brigham City, UT, February 12, 1866 and is the son of the late Thos. W. and Ruth Morgan Thomas. He came to Malad with his parents when only six weeks old, and has resided here since that time.

On March 3, 1886, Mr. Thomas was married to Annie E. Reynolds, daughter of John and Katherine Reynolds.

Mr. Thomas was a very active member of the LDS Church, being a member of the Bishopric for 26 years and has held many other offices in church capacity.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, Nov. 5 at the Second Ward Tabernacle, with Bishop O.H. Mabey presiding.

COMMUNITY PAYS LAST RESPECTS TO W.H. THOMAS; WOODLAND SPEAKS SENTIMENTS OF COMMUNITY AS TRIBUTE TO DEPARTED NEIGHBOR

Funeral services for Bishop W.H. Thomas were conducted in the Second Ward on Saturday afternoon with Bishop O.H. Mabey as follows:

Music – Katherine Richards
Selection by Choir, conducted by A.R. Castleton
Invocation – H.I. Mills
Selection by Kate E. Jones, assisted by choir
Remarks – Patriarch W.H. Richards
Remarks – C. Hutteballe
Vocal Solo – Bertha Jones, accompanied by Letitia Jones
Remarks – D.P. Woodland
Remarks – Bishop O.H. Mabey
Selection – Choir
Benediction – Pres. Thomas W. Richards

Not in our memory has a more glowing tribute been paid a departed brother than was ascribed to Bishop W.H. Thomas, deceased, at his funeral here recently. Outstanding, though, was the one paid him by his neighbor and friend, Daniel P. Woodland who said in part:

My dear brethren and sisters and friends, my heart is heavy today and I pray for strength that I might be able to say something that I have in my heart to say.

A few weeks ago Brother Thomas took me by the hand and with a heavy heart and a tear in his eye which doesn’t usually appear, he said, “Brother Woodland, I am sorry that you are going away. While I know you are going to improve your conditions and it would be selfish on my part to ask you to stay, yet, I will miss you and we will be sorry that you are gone. One thing we know is that you will be happy and you will find friends there, and you will go on a good deal like you have over here and we will meet you again.

Today I say of Brother Thomas the same things, and what I say of Bishop Thomas, I say of his devoted wife. The divide is dark. There is a barrier.

WILL LIVE ON

Bishop Thomas will go on a good deal like he was here, and let me tell you, friends, that he will go on in the presence of God-nobly, bravely and courageously, and as Brother Owens said, as a gentleman. He will go on as a great high Priest, and a King of Israel. I know of no greater tribute that can be paid; I know of no greater hope he could ask to attain. This man died as he lived, without a moment’s hesitation.

Praise God for Brother Thomas’ sojourn here with us.

That song Bertha just sang has always been the song o his heart, “The Beautiful City”. An hour before he died, he discussed it all with that old veteran there, Brother Hutteballe. He went without the least hesitancy or thought or doubt. He knew as he lived that this was not the end of the existence of man, but that I was just a step forward toward the hereafter.

A FINE NEIGHBOR

As a neighbor, there never was a finer, kinder man. He said a few weeks ago that our families had lived together almost the united order. There was no fence between us. I remember well the first week we moved into the old home that the fence was taken down. My children have grown up under his guidance and counsel.

When I was away he watered my garden. Things were looked after just the same, it not better, as when I was there. A few weeks ago we took a trip up north and when we got back the lawn was cut, the flowers were blooming and everything was just the same, only better than when we left.

THE WAY WE LIVED

I shall never forget one instance because it illustrates the life of this man. It was during the time when the “flu” was so prevelant. It has visited our home. A baby boy, our first boy, had also just been born to us, and Sister Woodland was taken with that dreadful disease. You all know how doctors said she couldn’t live. They came to me day after day and said, “Give up.” I give thanks to our heavenly Father for such men as Bishop Thomas who helped in that struggle.

Out baby boy, due to the severe illness of his mother, was not being given the consideration he needed. So concerned were we about his mother that we had almost forgotten about him. The third day I had just laid down for a little rest when Sister Holbrook, who was taking care of the baby, came to me and said “get up quickly. I believe the baby is dying.” I rushed to him and took him in my arms. Just then the door opened and Bishop Thomas came in and said, “I was strangely awakened and I thought I heard someone calling me so I came. What do you want?” And I said, “You know what we want,” and he took the baby in his arms and blessed him and the little fellow opened his eyes and he lived. He is now twelve years old.

A PRIVILEGE TO HONOR

I feel it a privilege to honor this man that God sent into our home that night. That is the relationship that existed between us. As I said in the beginning, my heart is heavy, yet I know he has just crossed the divide and is just as much alive, just as active and that he will carry on there just as he carried on here. (Repeated a poem by Edgar A. Guest) and as Edgar A. Guest said, he thought a good thought, he fought a good fight. He lived a good life. I am sure he had no fear whatever. Out in the open light he fought, he fought bravely and courageously. He fought the enemies of God. He fought the enemies of man. He fought in the open. He fought a good fight. He kept his course. As Brother Owens said, you always knew his stand. I want to challenge the boys and girls and the grandchildren to keep their course as he did.