Gary Dale Thomas, 77, of near Albany has stepped into the next phase of his life to join his beloved son Andy, his parents, Rolland and Agnes (Holden) Thomas, treasured younger brother Mark.
Gary is survived by his wife of 57 years, Betty (Emerich) Thomas, his daughter Kathryn, grandchildren Nick, Christian, Alex, and Elizabeth Thomas and their mother Lisa (York) Thomas. Also surviving are sisters Nancy (David) Kindt of Lakeville and Mary Anne (Rick) Mohler of Mt. Comfort, a brother Bradford (Betty) of Houston; a great many nieces and nephews and several great nieces and nephews.
In life, Gary was always active, always involved. The love of his life was children, most dearly his own Kathy and Andy, followed by grandchildren Nick, Christian, Alex, and Lizzy; his nieces and nephews; and the thousands of children who passed through his sixth-grade classroom in 37 years of teaching. He had a wonderful speaking and reading voice and loved reading to and sharing stories with children. He had a great talent for "making a short story long." He spent long hours playing board games or yard games or building block activities or logos with his grandchildren.
At Albany Elementary, Gary coached both baseball and basketball for a great many years, and he often assisted wherever needed in other sports and extracurricular activities. His involvement in sport extended to the middle school and high school where he volunteered to keep record books or to keep score. So long as he was able to climb the bleachers, he faithfully attended Delta sports and Ball State football games. He also organized and initiated and sponsored a Junior National Honor Society group at Albany. His sponsorship continued into Delta Middle School, where he shared the responsibility with Linda Razmic.
He was a charter member of Del Met Federal Credit Union where he served as president for 25 years. He was active in the Albany Lions Club for several years where his most notable activity was performing in the annual variety show as Alvin the Chipmunk. He was a devout member of the Albany United Methodist Church. He served as chairman of the Board of Trustees for several years and as a member of the Endowment Committee. He sang in the church choir, and sometimes taught Vacation Bible School and supervised youth group summer camps.
Gary loved growing things. He kept a large garden for many years and he almost filled a two-acre yard with fruit trees as well as shade trees, flowering trees, and may bushes, shrubs, and flowers. He accumulated a large collection of Eagle figures, which includes a large eagle carved from a corkscrew willow stump in his front yard. He loved Jim Clark sculptures, especially Christmas figures and tried to acquire one each year.
Gary loved to travel anywhere and everywhere. His favorite was summer vacations with family and extended family, especially North Carolina beach trips for the last more than 20 years. He also enjoyed planned trips which included three ocean cruises, a river boat cruise, and bus tours to the Hemisfair and Wisconsin lake cities. His was a kind, gentle, and loving soul, and he "never met a stranger."
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday May 1, 2010 at Garden View Funeral Home 10501 North State Road 3 Muncie, IN. Reverend Clive Hamelyn will officiate. Burial will follow at Gardens of Memory Cemetery in Muncie. Visitation will be on Friday from 4 pm until 8pm at the funeral home. Memorial contributions can be made to St. Jude Children''s Research Hospital or to Albany United Methodist Church. If you would like to sign the online guest book and send condolences to the family, you may do so by visiting www.gardenviewandgardensofmemory.com