RICHARD A. THOMAS
HARMONY - Richard A. Thomas, 81, passed away peacefully April 3, 2005, at the Blue Hill Hospital. He was born Dec. 7, 1923, in Portage (Buffalo), one of 17 children of William and Ester (Bragdon) Thomas. Married in 1950 to Marilyn Robbins, he settled in Clinton, later moving to South Freedom where he and his wife raised nine children. He lived in Monson for four years, and then moved to Harmony; there he spent the last 34 years. He had over two acres of garden where he grew much of his produce that he sold in Greenville, Guilford, Pittsfield, and Millinocket. He thoroughly enjoyed visiting with his children and giving vegetables out to them. He enjoyed life as a mill worker, woodsman, farmer, and vegetable peddler. He loved to talk and his ability to strike up a conversation with almost anyone was one of his many gifts. He also enjoyed fishing the river in Blanchard with his children. He was predeceased by his parents and 10 brothers and sisters.

He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; and his nine children, Doug and Lynn Thomas of Ripley, Richard and Sandy Thomas of Dover-Foxcroft, Jeffrey and Wanda Thomas of Harmony, Brenda (Thomas) and Francis Whitney of Harmony, William and Linda Thomas of Scarborough, Bruce and Charity Thomas of Willimantic, John and Doral Thomas of LaGrange, Mark and Tammy Thomas of Stockton Springs, Betsy Anne Thomas-Synnestvedt of Hamburg, Pa.; 25 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by six brothers and sisters, Elnora (Thomas) Shaw of Boothbay, Arthur Thomas of Albion, Frances (Thomas) and Ervin Paradis of Louisiana, Dale and Beatrice Thomas of Brooks, Claude and Marion Thomas and Bernard Thomas of Knox.

The funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. April 9, at the Abbot Evangelical Free Church, Main Street in Abbot, with the Pastor Ray Beless officiating. Per Richard's request there will be no visiting hours. Ashes will be interred at the Mainstream Cemetery in Harmony. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Parkinson's Research fund.