Rev. William Burdette Thomas

Rev. William Burdette Thomas, age 82, of Sebring, passed away at 3:30 p.m., Thursday, July 16, 2009 at Crandall Medical Center.
He was born October 30, 1926 in Cleveland, Ohio to Walter Burdette Thomas and Gladys (Williams) Thomas and resided in Alliance and vicinity since 1998.
Rev. Thomas attended elementary schools in Cleveland, West Tech High School in Cleveland and Bob Jones College and Baldwin Wallace College. He received seminary training at Asbury College and Oberlin College.
A United Methodist Minister he served at the following churches in Ohio: Pittsfield in 1950, New Waterford in 1951, Tiltonsville in 1955, Damascus in 1958, Hartford and Fowler in 1961, Bristolville and West Mecca in 1964, Clearview in 1971, Cambridge in 1976, Barnesville in 1980 and Jeromesville in 1985. He retired from the North East Ohio United Methodist Conference in 1991 after 41 years of Ministry. He became Visitation Pastor at Brunswick in 1991 and at the Alliance Presbyterian Church from 1998-2002. He was a member of Christ United Methodist Church in Alliance and the East Ohio United Methodist Conference.
Survivors include his wife, Lois M. (Crouch) Thomas of Sebring, whom he married September 13, 1952; sister, Mrs. Gloria Lloyd of Huron, Ohio; daughters, Mrs. Christine (Brent) Laner of New Philadelphia, Ohio and Ms. DeAnn Thomas of Ravenna, Ohio; son, Mr. Duane (Annette) Thomas of Goodyear, Arizona; granddaughters, Mrs. Carrie (Tony) Guttu of New Philadelphia, Ohio, Rachel Thomas of Sprint Valley, California, Sarah Thomas and Lydia Thomas, both of Goodyear, Arizona; grandson, Charles Potter of Norfolk, Virginia; step-grandchildren, Jesse Jr., Victor, and Patrick Malson all of Sardis, Ohio, Holly Laner of Lancaster, Ohio, Abby Laner of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Greg and Jimmy Laner of New Philadelphia, Ohio; and five great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
A Memorial Service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, July 25, 2009 at Copeland Oaks Chapel with Rev. Chris Martin of Christ United Methodist Church officiating. There will be no calling hours prior to the service. Friends and family may join the family at Murphy Auditorium at Copeland Oaks following the memorial service. Interment will be in New Philadelphia, Ohio.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions may be made to the Copeland Oaks Life Care Foundation, 715 S. Johnson Road, Sebring, Ohio 44672.
Arrangements are by Cassaday-Turkle-Christian Funeral Home, 75 S. Union Ave., Alliance, Ohio 44601.