Robert W. “Bud” Thomas
June 24, 2018
Date of Service: June 29, 2018
Interment Location: Crown Section
Robert (Bud) Whitfield Thomas, Sr., age 89, of Elizabethton, TN, passed away Sunday, June 24, 2018, at home surrounded by his wife of 67 years, Nancy Jane Thomas, and his six children.
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday evening, June 30th, at 6PM, at Memorial Presbyterian Church of Elizabethton, officiated by Joe Rightmyer, with reception and visitation immediately following the service in the church’s fellowship hall.
Bud was born at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Elizabethton to Jerry M. Thomas and Laura Allen Thomas on March 12, 1929. He graduated from Castle Heights Military Academy in 1947, and married Nancy Jane Kiser of Johnson City, TN on September 3rd, 1950 in Johnson City. He graduated from East Tennessee State University. He owned and operated Quality Cleaners in Elizabethton, then was Vice President and Branch Manager of Heritage Federal Savings and Loan in Elizabethton, and then worked for the FDIC, retiring in 1994. Bud was a veteran of the Korean War serving as First Lieutenant in the Army. He was an Elder at Memorial Presbyterian Church.
Bud is preceded in death by Jerry M. and Laura Allen Thomas, and stepmother Adah Howard Thomas, a brother J. Allen Thomas, and two sisters, Louise Marsh and Judy Hartell, and son-in-law Bill Trivette. We might mention that when Bud was in Junior High, all four siblings marched in the Elizabethton High School Band at the same time.
Bud is survived by his wife Nancy Jane Thomas, and six children, all of Elizabethton: Bob and Carolyn Thomas, Sandy and Paul Blowers, Kim and Robert King, Katherine and Arklie Hooten, Doug and Laura Thomas, and John Thomas. Grandchildren are Whitfield Thomas and fiancé Annie, Colin and Rebecca Thomas; Stephen and Kathryn Trivette; David and Jessica Trivette, Leslie and Drew Guider, Colin and Leah Bowers, Matthew King and Kelly King; Gabriel Thomas and Jacob Thomas; Erin Hooten, Levi Hooten, Gray and Megan Hooten, and Amanda Jenkins. And 14 Great Grandchildren.
Bud especially enjoyed over fifty years of spending time with his family at Watauga Lake.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Memorial Presbyterian Church MNA Disaster Response Fund.
The family of Bud and Nancy Jane Thomas wishes to extend our sincere thanks to Dr. Kenneth Hopland MD, Ballad Home Health and Hospice, Megan Jamerson RN, Sycamore Shoals Hospital Staff, and Judy Deloach and Ivy Hall Nursing Home Staff.
