Thorp Stockton Thomas Sr. (1923 - 2011)

Born 15 Sep 1923 in Alexander, Saline, Arkansas

Husband of Kermit Maurice (Toombs) Thomas — married 31 Aug 1947 in Saline County, Arkansas

Died 17 Sep 2011 at age 88 in Little Rock, Pulaski, Arkansas

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Biography

Thorp was born in 1923. He passed away in 2011.

Obituary Thorp Stockton Thomas Thorp Stockton Thomas of Little Rock, died Saturday, September 17, 2011, two days after his eighty-eighth birthday. He was born in Alexander, Arkansas, on September 15, 1923, to Howard Norman Thomas and Letitia Helen Miller Thomas. He was delivered at home by his future grandfather-in-law, Dr. W.W. Ward. He is preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Kermit Toombs Thomas; brother, Norman Thomas, and sister, Barbara Pengelly. Mr. Thomas is survived by his wife, Marie Underwood Thomas; daughters, Vicki Draper and husband, Charles of Little Rock, Mauri Douglass and husband, Lee of North Little Rock, Debbi Boye and husband, Lee of St. Charles, Illinois; sons, Thorp Thomas, Jr. and wife, Pam of Orlando, Florida and Terry Thomas of Searcy. He is also survived by ten grandchildren who affectionaly called him “Papa T”: Jason Hays and wife, Melissa of Mayflower, Mindi Draper Alley and husband, Justin of Little Rock, Keri Douglass Walker and husband, Howard of North Little Rock, Jay Douglass and Sam Douglass of North Little Rock, Bradley Boye and Caroline Boye of St. Charles, Illinois, Blair Thomas of Orlando, Florida and Christopher Thomas and Logan Thomas of Searcy. He was blessed by three great-grandchildren as well: Haven and Addison Alley, and Owen Walker. Family history was of great importance to Mr. Thomas. He grew up on Midland Farm in Saline County. He often told people that it was the geographic center of the state. Midland Farm was started by his great-grandfather, William S. Thomas, who moved to Arkansas in 1876 with his wife, Sarah Thorp, and son, Charles Thorp Thomas. William S. Thomas was a geologist from New York who was hired by Missouri Pacific Railroad to conduct geological surveys of the state’s mineral wealth. The maternal grandmother of Mr. Thomas was Adelia Stockton, the niece of the founder of Stockton, California. Mr. Thomas graduated from Little Rock Junior College in 1945. In 1950, he received his LLB from the University of Arkansas. He was admitted to the Arkansas Bar in 1951. He was also admitted to practice before the United States Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit and the United States Supreme Court. From 1950 through 1953, he worked for the Fidelity and Casualty Company of New York. In 1953, he became an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Arkansas during which time he argued two cases before the United States Supreme Court. He made an unsuccessful run for Arkansas Attorney General in 1962. In 1963, he left the Attorney General’s Office to begin a private practice in which he continued until his retirement in 2001. He was a member of Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church, the American Bar Association, and the Arkansas Bar Association. He was a former Chairman of the Alexander Planning Commission, a 32nd Degree Mason, and a Shriner. Visitation will be held at Ruebel Funeral Home on Tuesday, September 20, 2011, from 5 to 7 p.m. Funeral service will be held at Ruebel Funeral Home on Wednesday, September 21, 2011, at 2 p.m. with Rev. Lynn Lindsey officiating. Burial will follow at Pinecrest Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Charles Draper, Lee Douglass, Jay Douglass, Sam Douglass, Jason Hays, and Bradley Boye. Memorials may be made to the Pulaski County Humane Society. Arrangements by Ruebel Funeral Home, www.ruebelfuneralhome.com. [Source: Ruebel Funeral Home web site, <http://www.ruebelfuneralhome.com/> Obituary of Thorp Stockton Thomas <http://www.ruebelfuneralhome.com/obituaryindividual.php?id=1109> as viewed on 23 September 2011].

Sources

• FindUSA Database (Godfrey Memorial Library, Godfrey Scholar Portal <http://www.godfrey.org/>). As viewed on 28 July 2005.

• Email Message. [To Charlotte Schick from his daughter, Victoria Kay (Vicki) Thomas Draper, dated 20 September 2011].

• Find A Grave <https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/76788890>