HAYES -- Merritt Wood Thomas, 87, of the 2700 block of Walker Lane, passed away June 22, 2000, at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. He was known as
`Guinea' to longtime friends.
Born in Bena, Oct. 5, 1912, he attended Newport News City Schools, achieving All-State and All-Southern status in football during his high school career. He was a retired employee of Noland Co. after 42 years of service. During his employment with Noland, he established residences with his family in Raleigh, Durham and Winston-Salem, N.C.; Charleston, S.C.; Norfolk and Virginia Beach. He was a resident of Gloucester for 23 years and was a member of Chestnut Memorial United Methodist Church. He was predeceased by his parents,
Ira F. and Mary Elva Thomas; his sisters, Virginia Thomas Clendenin and
Jane Thomas Wingrove; a brother, Edwin W. Thomas; and a
brother-in-law, Alfred C. Clendenin.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Louise Golladay Thomas; daughters and son-in-law,
Mary Leigh and John A. Crain of Gastonia, N.C., Susan Thomas Lemley of Virginia Beach; and a son and daughter-in-law,
Merrit Wood ``Woody'' and Nora Jeanne Thomas of White Marsh; grandchildren,
Karen Crain Roper, Kim, Matt, Lynn and
Scott Crain of Gastonia, N.C., Vicki, Christopher, Douglas and
Dennis Lemley of Virginia Beach; five great-grandchildren; a brother-in-law,
Ralph L. Wingrove of Hayes; sisters-in-law,
Mattie Leigh Willkie and Eloise McKenry of Scottsville, Va.; several nieces and nephews; and cousins,
Martha, Henry and Gina Walker.
Pallbearers will be his grandsons, John Matthew and
Scott Thomas Crain, Christopher Allen and
Douglas Michael Lemley.
A graveside service of remembrance will be conducted at 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Gloucester Point Cemetery by the Rev.
Rudolph Tucker. Visitation will be from 7 to 8 p.m. today at Hogg Funeral Home, Gloucester Point.
