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THOMAS -- C.W. (Willard) Thomas, 88, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, nephew, uncle, and friend went to be with the Lord on Sunday November 14, 2004. Willard was born April 14, 1916, in Haworth, Oklahoma, the son of Charley and Verna (Kirby) Thomas, and was raised in Little Rock, Arkansas. Willard and his mother moved back to Oklahoma after his father's death, where he met his lifelong love, Mabel Weaver, during high school. The two were married on November 9, 1934, at Haworth, OK, at the beginning of their senior year in high school, which was not unusual in their rural farming community. Their first child was born 10 months later, in 1935, and by 1940 they were a family of 6. After graduating from high school Willard took a course in electric motor rewinding, which became his profession in life and his first job was at a lumber mill in Wright City, Oklahoma. In 1942 Willard moved his family to McNary, Arizona to work as an electrician in the lumber mill owned by the McNary family. During the war years, Willard received a deferment from military service because, as head electrician at the mill, his position was essential to the war effort. In 1957 he moved to Albuquerque and took a job at Electric Motor Company. In the early 60's Willard became a business owner when he purchased a fourth of Telco Electric, and during the 70's he opened his own shop, Thomas Electric, which is now owned by his son, Charles Thomas and is operated by Charles' son (Willard's grandson) Charles Wade Thomas. Willard retired in 1978, but continued to work part time for his son until 1995 when he had his first heart attack at age 78. Willard excelled in athletics, especially basketball, softball, and bowling. He was an avid Lobo fan and held basketball season tickets for 44 years. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, loving nothing more than to be in the woods with his sons and grandsons on a hunt. He will be greatly missed by game wardens throughout the southwest. To his children and grandchildren he imparted the work ethic that was common with men of his generation, which said that anything can be tackled and accomplished if you have enough determination and work hard toward your goal. Willard is preceded in death by his son Everett (1958), and is survived by his wife, Mabel; daughter, Wanda; son Charles, all of Albuquerque; son Dr. John Thomas of Kykotsmovi, Arizona; grandson, Esteban Rael of Los Angeles, California; granddaughter, Julie Brooks of Alamosa, Colorado; grandson, Charles Patrick Thomas; grandson, Owen Thomas; grandson, Charles Wade Thomas; granddaughter, Rebecca Cochran, all of Albuquerque; 12 great-grandchildren; an aunt, Odessa Wright of Haworth Oklahoma; and many nephews and nieces. Services will be on Thursday, November 18, 2004 at 1:00pm at Albuquerque Bible Church, 320 Montao Road NW. Burial will follow at Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery. Arrangements by Direct Funeral Services, 2919 4th Street NW. 505-343-8008
        Published on: Thu November 18, 2004