Howard E. Thomas, 82, of Fort Towson, OK, passed away on May 18, 2020 in Paris, TX.
He was born in Valliant, OK, on July 29, 1937, son of the late Artie Thomas and Tommie (Woolsey) Thomas. He is survived by his previous wife, Annette Brannan Cooper, current wife Carolyn, sons, Darren Thomas and wife Audrey of Ashdown, AR, Sean Thomas of Wright City, OK, grandchildren, Emma Thomas of Bossier City, LA, John Henry Thomas of Ashdown, AR, Hannah Thomas of Millerton, OK, Leland Thomas of Wright City, OK, and sister, Bonnie Bates of Valliant, OK.
Howard attended Valliant High School. He went to work at the Dierks lumber mill in Wright City with his dad. He married Annette Brannan and had two sons. He served in the United States Army and was stationed in Worms Germany from 1960 – 1962. After he was discharged he joined the Oklahoma National Guard and served 4 years. He started working for Gamble’s Radio and TV in 1962 where Mr. Gamble taught him the business and how to repair radios and televisions. Howard was the owner and operator of Howard’s TV and Appliance in Valliant for 57 years. He was Zenith and Maytag servicing dealer for the area. He was a pioneer in the satellite television industry. He installed the first satellite TV system in Southeast Oklahoma and hundreds of them as the market grew. Later he married Carolyn Combrink from Gainesville, FL on April 29, 1971 in Valliant, OK. They celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary this year.
He was a Christian and an active member of the First Christian Church in Hugo, OK. He loved bluegrass music and listened to it daily with his close friend, Glynn Pesicka. He attended Grant’s Blue Grass Festival in Hugo every year. Howard was a member of “Friends of the Fort” at Fort Towson historic site where he often volunteered. He enjoyed being with people and telling stories of the local history and people of the area. Howard enjoyed camping, hunting and going fishing. He loved his weekly game of 42 with Jack and Polly Mabry of Valliant. He knew almost everyone in McCurtain and Choctaw counties and touched many people’s lives.
He was born in Valliant, OK, on July 29, 1937, son of the late Artie Thomas and Tommie (Woolsey) Thomas. He is survived by his previous wife, Annette Brannan Cooper, current wife Carolyn, sons, Darren Thomas and wife Audrey of Ashdown, AR, Sean Thomas of Wright City, OK, grandchildren, Emma Thomas of Bossier City, LA, John Henry Thomas of Ashdown, AR, Hannah Thomas of Millerton, OK, Leland Thomas of Wright City, OK, and sister, Bonnie Bates of Valliant, OK.
Howard attended Valliant High School. He went to work at the Dierks lumber mill in Wright City with his dad. He married Annette Brannan and had two sons. He served in the United States Army and was stationed in Worms Germany from 1960 – 1962. After he was discharged he joined the Oklahoma National Guard and served 4 years. He started working for Gamble’s Radio and TV in 1962 where Mr. Gamble taught him the business and how to repair radios and televisions. Howard was the owner and operator of Howard’s TV and Appliance in Valliant for 57 years. He was Zenith and Maytag servicing dealer for the area. He was a pioneer in the satellite television industry. He installed the first satellite TV system in Southeast Oklahoma and hundreds of them as the market grew. Later he married Carolyn Combrink from Gainesville, FL on April 29, 1971 in Valliant, OK. They celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary this year.
He was a Christian and an active member of the First Christian Church in Hugo, OK. He loved bluegrass music and listened to it daily with his close friend, Glynn Pesicka. He attended Grant’s Blue Grass Festival in Hugo every year. Howard was a member of “Friends of the Fort” at Fort Towson historic site where he often volunteered. He enjoyed being with people and telling stories of the local history and people of the area. Howard enjoyed camping, hunting and going fishing. He loved his weekly game of 42 with Jack and Polly Mabry of Valliant. He knew almost everyone in McCurtain and Choctaw counties and touched many people’s lives.
Howard E. Thomas, 82, of Fort Towson, OK, passed away on May 18, 2020 in Paris, TX.
He was born in Valliant, OK, on July 29, 1937, son of the late Artie Thomas and Tommie (Woolsey) Thomas. He is survived by his previous wife, Annette Brannan Cooper, current wife Carolyn, sons, Darren Thomas and wife Audrey of Ashdown, AR, Sean Thomas of Wright City, OK, grandchildren, Emma Thomas of Bossier City, LA, John Henry Thomas of Ashdown, AR, Hannah Thomas of Millerton, OK, Leland Thomas of Wright City, OK, and sister, Bonnie Bates of Valliant, OK.
Howard attended Valliant High School. He went to work at the Dierks lumber mill in Wright City with his dad. He married Annette Brannan and had two sons. He served in the United States Army and was stationed in Worms Germany from 1960 – 1962. After he was discharged he joined the Oklahoma National Guard and served 4 years. He started working for Gamble’s Radio and TV in 1962 where Mr. Gamble taught him the business and how to repair radios and televisions. Howard was the owner and operator of Howard’s TV and Appliance in Valliant for 57 years. He was Zenith and Maytag servicing dealer for the area. He was a pioneer in the satellite television industry. He installed the first satellite TV system in Southeast Oklahoma and hundreds of them as the market grew. Later he married Carolyn Combrink from Gainesville, FL on April 29, 1971 in Valliant, OK. They celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary this year.
He was a Christian and an active member of the First Christian Church in Hugo, OK. He loved bluegrass music and listened to it daily with his close friend, Glynn Pesicka. He attended Grant’s Blue Grass Festival in Hugo every year. Howard was a member of “Friends of the Fort” at Fort Towson historic site where he often volunteered. He enjoyed being with people and telling stories of the local history and people of the area. Howard enjoyed camping, hunting and going fishing. He loved his weekly game of 42 with Jack and Polly Mabry of Valliant. He knew almost everyone in McCurtain and Choctaw counties and touched many people’s lives.
He was born in Valliant, OK, on July 29, 1937, son of the late Artie Thomas and Tommie (Woolsey) Thomas. He is survived by his previous wife, Annette Brannan Cooper, current wife Carolyn, sons, Darren Thomas and wife Audrey of Ashdown, AR, Sean Thomas of Wright City, OK, grandchildren, Emma Thomas of Bossier City, LA, John Henry Thomas of Ashdown, AR, Hannah Thomas of Millerton, OK, Leland Thomas of Wright City, OK, and sister, Bonnie Bates of Valliant, OK.
Howard attended Valliant High School. He went to work at the Dierks lumber mill in Wright City with his dad. He married Annette Brannan and had two sons. He served in the United States Army and was stationed in Worms Germany from 1960 – 1962. After he was discharged he joined the Oklahoma National Guard and served 4 years. He started working for Gamble’s Radio and TV in 1962 where Mr. Gamble taught him the business and how to repair radios and televisions. Howard was the owner and operator of Howard’s TV and Appliance in Valliant for 57 years. He was Zenith and Maytag servicing dealer for the area. He was a pioneer in the satellite television industry. He installed the first satellite TV system in Southeast Oklahoma and hundreds of them as the market grew. Later he married Carolyn Combrink from Gainesville, FL on April 29, 1971 in Valliant, OK. They celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary this year.
He was a Christian and an active member of the First Christian Church in Hugo, OK. He loved bluegrass music and listened to it daily with his close friend, Glynn Pesicka. He attended Grant’s Blue Grass Festival in Hugo every year. Howard was a member of “Friends of the Fort” at Fort Towson historic site where he often volunteered. He enjoyed being with people and telling stories of the local history and people of the area. Howard enjoyed camping, hunting and going fishing. He loved his weekly game of 42 with Jack and Polly Mabry of Valliant. He knew almost everyone in McCurtain and Choctaw counties and touched many people’s lives.
Inscription
Local Historian & Satellite TV System Pioneer.
Gravesite Details
On the far East side of the cemetery, near the Doaksville walking trail crossover.
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