Pastor Joe Thomas received his promotion to heaven on April 9, 2014. Joseph Lafayette Thomas, Jr. was born in Bartlett, Texas on April 26, 1923 to Joseph Lafayette Thomas, Sr. and Eula Mae Pairett Thomas. After graduating valedictorian from Bartlett High School in 1941, he served in the Civilian Conservation Corps and then entered the University of Texas. He transferred to Mercer University and graduated in 1945 with a Bachelor of Arts in History. Joe served honorably in the United States Navy in Princeton, New Jersey, attending Seminary at Princeton University as part of his Naval service. Later, Pastor Joe earned a Master of Divinity from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Joe married Margaret Hallie Brooks in Kannapolis, North Carolina on July 1, 1949 and they were happily married for fifty-eight years until Margaret's death in July, 2007. Joe was preceded in death by his wife Margaret, sons David and Paul, brothers Elbert and Raymond, and sister Nell. He is survived by his daughters Mary Gepfert and Rebekah Thomas, Daughter-in-law Pamella Thomas, grand children Micah, Stephanie and Chelsea Thomas, Cameron and Michaela Salyer, and Mary Margaret, Joseph and Abigail Young. He also has nine great-grandchildren, Brianna, Shamariyah, Carlos, Wesley, Serayah, Dalila, Brooklyne, Noah, and Riordan.
Joe was ordained as a Minister of the Gospel in Austin, Texas in 1946. He faithfully served the Lord for sixty-eight years as a pastor, teacher, counselor and mentor. The primary focus of his life was teaching the Word of God and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with everyone he encountered.
A celebration of his life will be held on Tuesday, April 15
th
at 3:00 pm at Calvary Temple Church in Edmond. In lieu of flowers his family respectfully requests memorials be made to S.T.E.P.S., 3126 S. Blvd. #319, Edmond, OK 73013, or Medical Ambassadors International, P.O. Box 1302, Salida, CA 95368.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Joseph Thomas, please visit our flower store.
