Lloyd O. Thomas

Hastings resident Lloyd O. Thomas, 84, died Thursday, April 16, 2009 at the Grand Island Veterans Home, Grand Island, NE. Services will be Wednesday, April 22, 2009 at 10:30 at the First United Methodist Church, Hastings, NE with the Rev. Sam Rathod officiating. Burial will be in Parkview Cemetery, Hastings, NE with military rites. Visitation will be Tuesday, April 21, 2009, from 9 AM to 9 PM with the family present from 6 PM to 8 PM at the Brand-Wilson Funeral Home, Hastings, NE. Condolences may be sent to the family from www.brandwilson.com. Lloyd was born June 28, 1924 to George and Mamie (Arnette) Thomas in Glade Spring, Virginia and grew up in the mountains of Virginia and attended Emory & Henry College in Meadowview, VA before joining the Army-Air Force during WWII. It was during his basic training at the Harvard Air Base in Nebraska that he met his future wife, Vivian Rants at the USO in Hastings, NE. Following his WWII service as a meteorologist in North Africa he returned to Hastings and he and Vivian married in 1946. They were married until her death in 2004. They had four children. Lloyd always had a quick smile, a sunny disposition and a positive outlook on life. He had a strong faith and giving heart. He was active in the First United Methodist Church in Hastings, Ne, where he taught Sunday school and was a lay leader. For years he faithfully gave blood at the Red Cross Bloodmobile. He served on the board of the Community Concert Association, often emceing their programs. Lloyd was a former member of the Hastings City Council, Golden K Kiwanis and the Masonic Lodge he was also a Cub Scout pack leader. Lloyd loved his family, friends and community dearly. He had a great sense of humor and loved to laugh. Lloyds love of listening and talking lead to his work in TV and radio. He worked at KHAS radio after WWII , he interviewed many people, both unknown and well known. After leaving KHAS he worked briefly for Burlington Truck Line in sales. Getting back into broadcasting he joined the KICS radio, then KHAS TV. In the 1970's he began airing the Big Band Show on Sunday evening on KHAS radio, sharing his love of music. Left to carry on his smiles and sense of humor are his survivors, 2 daughters, Lynette Snyder and husband Fred of Lincoln, NE, and Valerie Beck and husband Rick on Spruce Pine, NC, 2 sons, Phillip Thomas and wife Sharon and Paul Thomas and wife Sue all of Omaha, NE, 11 grandchildren, Shane and Dawn Thomas, of Castle Rock, CO, Corey Thomas and Amber Thomas of Omaha, NE, Cody Thomas of Lincoln, NE, Jack Thomas of Omaha, NE, Jesse and Jeni Snyder of Omaha, NE, Josh Snyder of Boulder, CO, Joel and Kealey Snyder of Lincoln, NE, and 2 great grandchildren, Kamryn Snyder of Lincoln, NE and Audrey Thomas of Castle Rock, CO. 3 sisters, Eleanor Hamilton of Glade Spring, VA, June Ryburn and husband Jack and Emolyn King of all of Abingdon, VA and 1 brother, Kenneth Thomas and wife Barbara of Salem, VA. And many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, and wife, Vivian. The family would like to thank the Kensington in Hastings, NE and the Veterans Home in Grand Island, NE, for their love and dedication. Memorials may be given to the First United Methodist Church in Hastings, NE or the Grand Island Veterans Home, Grand Island, NE. Lloyd would love it if you shook a hand and shared a smile.