C. Dale Thomas

Former Clay Center, NE, resident, C. Dale Thomas, 94, passed away Sunday, August 16, 2015, at Perkins Pavilion, Good Samaritan Society - Hastings Village, Hastings, NE. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, August 22, 2015, at the United Church of Christ in Clay Center, NE, with Rev. Harry Cross and Rev. Del Klover officiating. Interment will follow at the Clay Center Cemetery in Clay Center, NE, with military rites by the American Legion Mills-Schroder Post #87. Visitation will be Friday, August 21, 2015, from 1 - 8 p.m., with the family present from 4 - 5:30 p.m., at McLaughlin Funeral Chapel in Clay Center, NE. Memorial contributions may be directed to the United Church of Christ in Clay Center, NE. Dale was born June 12, 1921, in Rural Edgar, NE., to Jesse Ray and Verna L. (Northrop) Thomas. He received his education in Clay Center and graduated from Clay Center High School. On October 22, 1943, he married Berneda A. "Babe" Fitzke in Sabetha, KS. Dale furthered his education at Nebraska Wesleyan University until he enlisted in the United States Marines Corp on November 5, 1943. He received his flight training in Norman, OK, and his advanced training in St. Louis, MO. While being transferred by train to San Diego, CA, he was in charge of overseeing over 50 Marines during the trip. He attributed that responsibility to his love for scotch. He served in the Marines until he was honorably discharged on December 3, 1945. After being discharged, he returned to Clay Center and operated the family hatchery and feed store. He later accepted a position as Postmaster in Clay Center where he was employed until his retirement in 1981. Dale was a member of the United Church of Christ, the American Legion, the Clay Center Cemetery Board and the Masonic Lodge in Hastings, NE. He was the former president of the Clay Center Development Corporation and was instrumental in bringing Dr. Kim Chi and Dr. Vuong to the Clay Center Medical Center to practice. He was an Avid Husker fan and Clay Center High School fan where he especially enjoyed his interaction with the volleyball team. Dale loved his boxer dogs and enjoyed taking them to coffee with him in his golf cart. He is survived by his wife, Babe Thomas of Hastings, NE; son and daughter-in-law, Greg and Coral Ann Thomas of Enid, OK; daughter and son-in-law, Sheila and Michael Grummert of McPherson, KS; daughter-in-law, Cheryl Thomas-Miller of York, NE; 9 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Steven; grandson, Jonathan Grummert; granddaughter, Paige Thomas; brother, Harold Thomas and sister, Ruth England.

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C. Dale Thomas

June 12, 1921 - August 16, 2015