Alfred Robert Thomas

Alfred R. Thomas, 87, died Saturday, September 6, 2014, in Oklahoma City. He was born June 30, 1927, on a farm in the NW corner of Cotton County, Oklahoma, to Myrton and Bessie Thomas. He worked in his dad's threshing business doing custom combining from the Texas panhandle to North Dakota. He graduated Valedictorian of the 1944 class of Ahpeatone High School, attended Cameron College in Lawton where he served as President of the 1945 freshman class. He served in the U.S. Navy 1945-46 during WWII and returned to graduate from Cameron in 1947. Later, he attended Oklahoma A&M University in Stillwater. 1950-56 Al worked as dispatcher for the Highway Patrol Hq in Lawton. In 1962 he moved to Enid where he raised his family and worked as Manager for Dillingham Claims Co. and later for The Home Insurance Co. of NY. In 1976 Gov. David Boren appointed him to the Board of the OETA. In 1977 he returned to Walters to farm and ranch. In 1981 he was appointed by Gov. George Nigh to fill a vacant seat as Cotton County Commissioner and was re-elected each term from 1981-91 when he retired. He also served on the Board of Directors for the Assn. of Co. Commissioners. Alfred was a member of the Masons for 65 years, and a member of the Walters First United Methodist Church where he and Anne were married in 1992. They relocated to OKC in 1995. Alfred worked until he was 85. He loved to travel and spent many of his working years as a catastrophe insurance adjuster working all over the country on disasters, including the Johnstown Flood, Northridge Earthquake and Katrina. He loved life and made friends everywhere he went, and often said he had lived during the best years of mankind. Survivors include his wife, Anne Thomas; two daughters, Linda Hoernke and husband, Roy, and Susan Desaulnier; his son, Keith Thomas and wife, Nola; sisters Wanda Scherler and Charlotte Brock; grandsons, Patrick Mock, Christopher Mock and Steven Desaulnier; granddaughters, Becky House, Jolene Seal and Crystal Woodrome; 10 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents. Funeral service will be at 2:00 p.m. Friday, September 12, at Hart-Wyatt Funeral Home Chapel, Rev. Brantley Tillery officiating with burial at Walters Cemetery. Viewing will be held Friday morning from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.