J.W. Walter Thomas Kilpatrick Funeral Home Farmerville, LA Funeral services for Walter Thomas, 95, of Spencer, La, will be held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, September 30, 2007 at Spencer Baptist Church under direction of Kilpatrick Funeral Home of Farmerville. Rev. Don Reeves and Rev. Billy Carter will officiate. Interment will follow at Roark Cemetery near Marion, LA. Mr. Thomas was born on June 23, 1912, and died Wednesday, September 26, 2007 following heart failure. He was preceded in death by his parents, John R. and Myrtis Brown Thomas; his first wife of three years, Vera Dumas Thomas, and their son, James L. Thomas; his wife of 68 years, Bobbie Nolan Thomas; and his brother, J.B. Thomas. Survivors include her daughter Agnes Wilson and daughter-in-law Pauline Thomas of Farmerville, and son Eugene Thomas and wife Carol of Slidell. He is also a survived by 11 grandchildren: Dewanna Lingefelt of Bastrop, James Martez Thomas of Lodi, CA, Tonika Davis of Nome, TX, Toria Thomas of Dayton, TX, Toshia Thomas of Farmerville, Heath Wilson and Renee Wilson of Farmerville, Tammy Hulme of Parker, TX, Terri Thomas of Charlotte, NC, James Bryon Thomas of Humble, TX and Tommie Thomas of Slidell. Walter was also survived by 17 great-grandchildren and 18 great-greatgranchildren. Walter loved and regarded his close neighbors David and Linda Garris and their children, Jason and Julie, as family. Walter nearly lost his life at age three when he was run over by a Model T car. He survived after months of hospitalization and numerous surgeries. He and his brother were raised without a father, and their mother died when the sons were teenagers. Walter married Vera Dumas when he was 19 years old, and they were blessed with the birth of a son, James, two years later. Vera died before their son was two years old, and Walter raised him with the help of neighbors for a year, before marrying Bobbie Nolan in 1936. Their 68 year marriage was blessed with two children, Agnes and Eugene. Walter≠s first job was driving a log truck at the age of 12. He later helped build LA 2 highway south of Farmerville and the original electrical power station in Sterlington. After WWII, Walter began working in pipeline construction throughout the United States, and continued that career until his retirement 30 years ago, at age 65. He returned to his home in Spencer and kept busy buying and selling scrap metal and aluminum cans until a few years ago. He enjoyed southern gospel music and organized the Spencer Quartet, singing at conventions, live radio programs and funerals for many years. He was a long time member and deacon of Spencer Baptist Church, where he enjoyed singing in the church choir. He was known as a good neighbor who readily befriended and shared his time and possessions with those who were in need. Pallbearers will be his grand-children: Heath Wilson, Jim Thomas and Tommie Thomas. his great-grandchildren: Brandon Hulme, his dear friend and neighbor: David Garris, and friend: Wayne Weaver. Honorary Pallbearers will be long time friends: Johnny Dollar, Jasper Snell, Charles Thomas, Sidney Stokes, Wes Green, John E. Parks, Les Parks, Thomas Hollis and Dewey Robertson. Visitation will be Saturday evening, September 29, 2007 from 5:00 PM until 9:00 PM at Spencer Baptist Church. Memorials may be made, in lieu of flowers, to the Spencer Baptist Church. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.kilpatrickfuneralhomes.com