Richard Thomas

Friday, November 24, 2006

Sept. 12, 1939 - Nov. 22, 2006

MORTON,Ill. - Richard J. Thomas of 401 Ken St., died on Nov. 22, 2006, at St. Francis Medical Center.

Born Sept. 12, 1939, in Indianola to Emmet and Alice Sughroue Thomas. He married Dorothy L. Davitt in Churchville, Iowa on Oct. 29, 1966. She survives.

Also surviving are two sons, Thomas and Melanie of Hoffman Estates, Ill., John and Susannah of North Aurora,, Ill.; three daughters, Barbara Thomas of Oak Park, Ill., Mary Thomas of Schaumburg, Ill., and Catherine Hawley and Jonathan of Morton; and one brother,Robert Thomas of California.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother and a sister.

He received a bachelors degree in biology from the University of Nebraska at Kearney and a masters degree in biology from the University of Northern Iowa. He received two National Science Foundation (NSF) Academic Year Institutes, seven NSF Summer Institutes and 19 NSF short courses in biology.

He was a multiple year listing in Who's Who Among American Teachers. He was a lifetime member of the National Association of Biology Teachers.

From 1961 to 1965, he taught high school biology and mathematics at Geneva. From 1966 to 1967, he taught biology at Alameda Senior High in Jefferson County, Colo. He was a professor of biology at Illinois Central College from 1968 to 2006.

He was a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Morton, where a funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, with Fr. Mark DeSutter officiating.

Visitation will be from 9-11 a.m. Saturday at the church. Cremation will be accorded following services. Cremains will be buried at a later date in Indianola.

Knapp-Johnson Funeral Home in Morton is handling arrangements.

Memorials may be made to Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 225 E. Greenwood St., Morton, IL. 61550, or to the American Lung Association, 3000 Kelly Lane, Springfield, IL 62711.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.knappjohnson.com.