ROLAND THOMAS
June 6, 1926-July 1, 2008
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Roland Thomas, 82, Pine Bluff, died at St. Vincent Infirmary Medical Center on Tuesday.
Mr. Thomas was born June 6, 1926, in Goldsboro, a son of the late John Haywood and Pauline Uzzell Thomas. Mr. Thomas was reared and received his education in Goldsboro where he attended the Goldsboro schools.
Mr. Thomas was an avid baseball fan. He played minor league baseball in the Palmetto league, the Carolina State league and the House of David. His favorite team was the New York Yankees. He also played baseball in the Yankee and Dodger organizations.
He began working for International Paper Company in Georgetown, S.C., in 1950. He transferred with the company to Pine Bluff in 1958 and worked until his retirement in June of 1991. He was a member of Eastside Baptist Church and former co-owner of the Blossom Shop florist in Pine Bluff.
Mr. Thomas was preceded in death by his parents; his wife in 2000, Shirley Vann Thomas, whom he married Sept. 21, 1947, in Dillon, S.C.; a twin brother, Robert Thomas, of Pine Bluff, and brother, Linwood Thomas, of Griffith, N.C.
He is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Vickie and Tony Crowson, of White Hall; grandson and granddaughter-in-law, Andy and Melissa Crowson, of Bentonville; two grand-daughters- and grandsons-in-law, Tisha and Tom Broyles, of Fayetteville and Christie and Paul Donaldson, of Woodlawn; 10 great-grandchildren, Terny, Ryan and Brittany Crowson, of Bentonville; Jordan, Franco, Thomas and Beau Broyles, of Fayetteville and Alex, Callie and Katie Donaldson, of Woodlawn; three brothers, John Thomas, of Goldsboro, Bill Thomas, of Washington, N.C., and Joe Thomas, of Wallace, S.C.; one sister, Beulah Sutton, of LaGrange.
Funeral services were held Saturday at the Chapel of Ralph Robinson and Son Funeral Directors with the Rev. Dr. Bob Harper officiating.
Memorials may be sent to First Baptist Church of White Hall Building Fund, 8708 Dollarway Road, White Hall, AR, 71602.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on July 10, 2008 2:01 PM