Ray D. Thomas, 96, of Tuscola, Illinois passed away Wednesday November 18, 2015 at his residence. Funeral services at Hilligoss Shrader Funeral Home, Tuscola with Military  graveside rites accorded at the Tuscola Township Cemetery.

Ray was born January 5, 1919, outside Olney, Illinois, the son of William Perry Thomas and Dessie Otto Scherer.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 55 years, Dora M. Thomas; his daughter, Sandra K. Ladd; grandson, Michael L. Ladd; as well as his parents; brothers, Oral and Max Thomas; and sister, Bernadine Wagy.

His legacy includes children, Ronald L. Gillette and his wife Carol of Oswego, Karen E. Reed of Tuscola and Jill S. Thomas of Raleigh, N.C.; 10 grandchildren; 27 great-grandchildren; and 13 great-great-grandchildren (with twins on the way).

Ray served with the U.S. Army in World War II in both the European and Pacific theaters, attaining a field commission to second lieutenant.

After the war, he relocated to Springfield to work in the office of the Secretary of State, where he met his wife Dora. He spent the remainder of his career with Addressograph Multigraph International, from which he retired to Tuscola.

News-Gazette, The (Champaign-Urbana, IL) - Friday, November 20, 2015