Arthur R. ''Art'' Thomas, 80, formerly of Edwina St. Dundee, died Monday, March 15, 2010 at Schuyler Hospital, Montour Falls.
Friends may call from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, March 19 at the Baird Funeral Home, 36 Water St., Dundee. A memorial service will begin at 7 p.m. with a Fireman’s Service, followed by a Masonic Service. Burial will be private in Lakemont Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Dundee Fire Dept., or Emergency Squad, 12 Union St., or the Dundee United Methodist Church, 35 Water St, Dundee, 14837.
Arthur was born Nov. 22, 1929 in Lakeland, Fla., the son of Earl M. and Laura Smalt Thomas. On June 19, 1948 in Caton, N.Y. he married Marjorie E. Gridley. She passed away on Jan. 9, 2002.
He has lived locally since 1954, previously of Caton; where he started his working career as a Dairy Farmer when he was still very young. In 1951 he took a position with G.L.F. of Campbell; which he continued to work for throughout its transition to Agway Petroleum. He retired after 34 years in 1985, and took a position as Coach Driver with T & T Bus Line of Caton; retiring for good in 1993.
Mr. Thomas was a member of the Dundee United Methodist Church; Past Chief & Treasurer of the Dundee Fire Dept., member of the Dundee Fireman’s Benevolent Assoc., and Yates County Fire Chiefs Assoc. He was a former member of the Dundee Masonic Lodge # 123 F&AM, a member of the Corning Consistory, and a current member of the Lamoka Lodge #463 F&AM. In his spare time in the fall he enjoyed hunting.
He is loved and will be missed by two sons Raymond L. (Nancy) Thomas of Montour Falls, Edwin A. (Jill) Thomas of Houston, Texas; two daughters, Virginia E. (Edward) Allen of Dundee and Janet L. (Robert) Geer of Fredricksburg, Va.; a brother “Bob” Robert E. (Barbara) Thomas of Caton; 12 grandchildren; three great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.
In addition to his wife, he was pre-deceased by a brother Alvin “Bud” Thomas in 2000.
