1917
Ben
2011
Ben B. Thomas
January 30, 1917 — February 6, 2011
Ben Thomas, age 94, of Bloomington, IL, formerly of Rock Island passed away February 6, 2011 in Asta Care Center, Bloomington, IL
Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 9th at Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, Ltd,
6601-38th Avenue, Moline. Visitation will be one hour prior to service time at the funeral home. Burial will be at National Cemetery, Rock Island. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, a local hospice or St. Louis Cardinal's Care.
Ben was born in Moline, IL on January 30, 1917 the son of Benjamin H. and Matilda Buhrmann Thomas. He married Mildred L. Nelson on April 22, 1937 at St. John's Lutheran Church, Rock Island where they were members. She passed away on April 12, 1986. He later married Velma Glisan on March 4, 1989 and joined the First Christian Church in Moline.
Ben retired from Iowa-Illinois Gas and Electric Company in 1981 after 29 years of service. He was a member of the IBEW in Rock Island. He served in World War II in the U.S Army Air Corps as a second lieutenant, and was a bombardier on a B-24 bomber with the 404th Bomber Squadron, 11th Air Force, from December 1943 until July 1947. He was a member of the Rock Island American Legion. Ben was a member of several church clubs and was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan.
Survivors:
Wife Velma
Sons & Daughters-in-law Ben Errol & Patricia Thomas Henry, IL
Frank and Paula Thomas Chillicothe, IL
Daughter & Son-in-law Barbara and Randall Hines Murphysboro, IL
8 grandchildren and spouses Karen and Patrick Liddell Rockford, IL
Michael and Jill Thomas DeKalb, IL
Mark Thomas Alaska
Sarah Mura Peoria, IL
Kim Thomas Seattle, WA
Jason and Charitty Hines Baton Rouge, LA
Jeffrey Hines St. Louis, MO
8 great-grandchildren John and Alex Liddell
Taylor and Mitchell Thomas
Lillian, Sophia, Nicholas, & Nathan Mura
Sister Dorothy Abert Livermore, CA
Eleven nephews and one niece
Velma's children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father, sisters and brother-in-law, Mildred and Merle Ahrens, Estella and Clifford Thornbloom and Fred Abert, grandson, Craig Thomas, a nephew and one of Velma's sons Vern Glisan.
Online condolences may be expressed to Ben's family by visiting his obituary at www.esterdahl.com
Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, February 9th at Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, Ltd,
6601-38th Avenue, Moline. Visitation will be one hour prior to service time at the funeral home. Burial will be at National Cemetery, Rock Island. Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, a local hospice or St. Louis Cardinal's Care.
Ben was born in Moline, IL on January 30, 1917 the son of Benjamin H. and Matilda Buhrmann Thomas. He married Mildred L. Nelson on April 22, 1937 at St. John's Lutheran Church, Rock Island where they were members. She passed away on April 12, 1986. He later married Velma Glisan on March 4, 1989 and joined the First Christian Church in Moline.
Ben retired from Iowa-Illinois Gas and Electric Company in 1981 after 29 years of service. He was a member of the IBEW in Rock Island. He served in World War II in the U.S Army Air Corps as a second lieutenant, and was a bombardier on a B-24 bomber with the 404th Bomber Squadron, 11th Air Force, from December 1943 until July 1947. He was a member of the Rock Island American Legion. Ben was a member of several church clubs and was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan.
Survivors:
Wife Velma
Sons & Daughters-in-law Ben Errol & Patricia Thomas Henry, IL
Frank and Paula Thomas Chillicothe, IL
Daughter & Son-in-law Barbara and Randall Hines Murphysboro, IL
8 grandchildren and spouses Karen and Patrick Liddell Rockford, IL
Michael and Jill Thomas DeKalb, IL
Mark Thomas Alaska
Sarah Mura Peoria, IL
Kim Thomas Seattle, WA
Jason and Charitty Hines Baton Rouge, LA
Jeffrey Hines St. Louis, MO
8 great-grandchildren John and Alex Liddell
Taylor and Mitchell Thomas
Lillian, Sophia, Nicholas, & Nathan Mura
Sister Dorothy Abert Livermore, CA
Eleven nephews and one niece
Velma's children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father, sisters and brother-in-law, Mildred and Merle Ahrens, Estella and Clifford Thornbloom and Fred Abert, grandson, Craig Thomas, a nephew and one of Velma's sons Vern Glisan.
Online condolences may be expressed to Ben's family by visiting his obituary at www.esterdahl.com
Visitation Details
Wednesday, February 9th, 2011, 12:00pm - 1:00pm, Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory
Service Details
Wednesday, February 9th, 2011, 1:00pm, Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory
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