Dr. Bill Clark Thomas, age 84, of Cadiz, Kentucky, passed away Monday, January 2, 2017, at his son's home in Utica, Kentucky. Dr. Bill Clark Thomas grew up in Cadiz, Kentucky and graduated from Trigg County High School, Murray State University, and from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky in 1963 with a Doctorate of Theology. At the age of 18, Bill Clark had responded to a call to the ministry. He was ordained by the First Baptist Church of Murray, Kentucky in 1952, and served in several churches in western Kentucky. Bill Clark married Ruth Douglas of Lone Oak, Kentucky in 1954, and they were appointed as missionaries of the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention in 1963. During the next 34 years they served in Singapore, Taiwan, Malaysia, West Germany, Thailand, and France. In 1996, they retired to Cadiz, Kentucky.

He is survived by: one son - Rev. Charles Thomas (Kim), Utica, Kentucky; three daughters - Dorothy McElrath (Tim), Altadena, California; Cecilia Wallace (Dr. Jeff), Paducah, Kentucky; and Deborah Cooke (Jeremy), Arlington, Texas; one brother - Seldon Earl Thomas (Mary), Owensboro, Kentucky; 15 grandchildren - Emily Dillon (Marshall); Olivia Ruckstuhl (Shane); Tyler Wallace (Anna); Grant Wallace; William Thomas; Rachel Thomas; Catherine Thomas; Melody Foster; Lyric Foster; Davis Cooke; Elyssa McElrath; Brianna Panasenco (Aram); Fiona McElrath; Kerensa McElrath; and Demelza McElrath; and one great grandson - Jack Marshall Dillon. He was preceded in death by: his parents - Cecil Seldon & Dorothy Clark Thomas; his wife of 58 years - Ruth Douglas Thomas; and one son - Douglas Clark Thomas.

Arrangements are being handled by Goodwin Funeral Home, Inc., 138 Main Street in Cadiz, Kentucky, where the family will receive friends after 4:00 PM on Wednesday, January 4, 2017. The funeral service will be at the Cadiz Baptist Church Chapel, 82 Main Street in Cadiz, Kentucky, at 1:00 PM Thursday, January 5, 2017, with the Dr. Jeff Wallace and Reverend Kyle Noffsinger officiating. An additional visitation will be held the day of the funeral service, Thursday, from 11:00 AM until the time of the funeral service at 1:00 PM, at the Cadiz Baptist Church Chapel. Burial will follow the funeral service at the Starkie Thomas Cemetery in Trigg County, Kentucky.

Memorial contributions can be made to Starkie Thomas Cemetery Fund, c/o Janie Sumner Wall, 1133 Floyd Sumner Road, Cadiz, Kentucky 42211.