Floyd L. Thomas

Floyd L. Thomas, age 83, of Atwater, passed away on August 17, 2022.

He was born on August 15, 1939 in Alliance to Celia Roth Pence and Guy Thomas. Floyd grew up at his family farm in Homeworth, later moving to Deerfield when he was 8 years old with his mother and Step-Father, Otis Gamber.

Floyd graduated from Southeast High School in 1957 and went on to attend International Correspondence School in Scranton, PA for surveying and mapping. Floyd was licensed by the State of Ohio Board of Professional Engineers and Surveyors on January 10, 1968. He worked for the Ohio Department of Transportation District 4 in Ravenna. He began work as a rodman in March of 1956 and later became an instrument man, until he was promoted to the supervisor of District 4 surveying department. Floyd retired from ODOT on September 30, 1988 after over 32 years of service. He also spent many winters snow plowing for ODOT; the only mailbox Floyd ever hit was his own, which everyone teased him about for years. He was also a private land surveyor for over 40 years. If you owned property in Portage County, chances are he and his partner and friend, Sam Janka, surveyed it at some point.

Floyd enjoyed gardening and planted over several acres. He always had over 200 tomato plants. In later years, he planted pumpkins and indian corn. Floyd also enjoyed fishing and attending tractor pulls with his late son, Brian. In recent years, bird watching from his favorite recliner was his favorite hobby, but his greatest joy was spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren.

Floyd was a longtime member of Atwater Lions Club and he attended Atwater Methodist Church.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 62 years, Lucinda Thomas, whom he just celebrated his anniversary with on August 13th; his children, Kevin (Brenda) Thomas of Diamond and Cathy (Doug) Knapp of Marlboro; grandchildren, Ozzie, Isaac and Elliott Thomas, and Madison Knapp; brother-in-law, Don Kerr of Sebring; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; step-father; son, Brian L. Thomas; and brother, Dale Thomas.

Visitation will be held on Monday, August 22nd from 5:00-7:00 p.m. and on Tuesday, from 10:00-11:00 a.m. at Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday, August 23rd at 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home with the Rev. Tina Gallaher officiating. Interment will be at Atwater Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Floyd’s name may be made to Atwater Fire Department, Atwater, Randolph, Suffield Food Bank, or Atwater United Methodist Church.

Arrangements are entrusted to Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home 75 South Union Ave Alliance, Ohio 44601.