Richard Earl Thomas, 92, of Mount Vernon, Iowa, and formerly of Perry died Monday, Sept. 2, 2024, at the St. Luke’s Transitional Care Center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
A visitation will be held from 10-11 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 6 at the Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids. A funeral service will follow at 11 a.m. Graveside services will be held Saturday Sept. 7 at 11:30 a.m. at the Dallas Township Cemetery in rural Dawson, Iowa.
Richard was born July 17, 1932, near Cantril, Iowa, to Herbert and Edna (Alexander) Thomas.
After graduating from Fox Valley High School in Milton, Iowa, in 1950, he honorably served in the U.S. Army, stationed in Germany from 1952-1954.
Richard married Arlene Bernice Lewis on May 20, 1953, in Pocohontas, Arizona. Together they had two daughters, Deanna Jo and Delores Jean.
Arlene died in 1977, and Richard later married Betty Jean Bandy (Hougham) in 1981 in Perry.
In Perry he was employed by Farmers Hybrid Seed Corn Co. and later worked for Meadow Gold. He retired from Meadow Gold in 1994.
Richard enjoyed attending horse events with his daughter and being her biggest supporter at her beck and call. He and Betty enjoyed travel and camping before Betty’s death in 1994.
In later years, Richard enjoyed traveling with his significant other, Doris Bennett, including nightly phone calls for the last several years.
In 2002 he moved to Mount Vernon, where he spent his remaining years living on the farm with his daughter, Deanna, and son-in-law, Randy Lagos.
Richard was an avid reader, and he loved his dogs (Dessa and Violet) and loved Western movies. He did not enjoy the company of Leonard the goat.
He was a member of the Church of Latter-Day Saints in Mount Vernon and Cedar Rapids.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Herbert and Edna Thomas; his brother, Cleo Thomas; his infant daughter, Delores, in 1956; his first wife, Arlene; his second wife, Betty; brother-in-law, Lester Lewis; step-sons, Ron and Tracy Bandy; and step-grandson, Nathaniel Bandy.
He is survived by daughter, Deanna (Randy) Lagos; step-son, Scott (Michelle) Bandy; grandson, Tyler (Nina) Brott; step-grandsons, Travis Brott, Tim (Keria) Lagos, Pat Lagos and Aaron Bandy; great-granddaughters, Faith (Andrew Stevenson) Brott and Joy Bott; great-grandson, Gavin Sevey; great-great-grandson Stevenson (Faith and Andrew’s son in progress); brother-in-law, Vernon (Joy) McCormick; nephews, Jim McCormick, John (Tara) Frankenberg, Mike (Tera) Frankenberg, Steve (Brenda) Thomas and Paul Dean Thomas; nieces, Molly McCormick, Jean Schwieger and Teresa (Earl) Broseh; cousins, Charles (Shirley Anne) Sheets, Jim (Heather) Sheets, Paul (Jane) Wells and Linda (Larry) Sheets; and many more extended family.
