Rev. Edward L. Thomas

Born in Pennsylvania, a son of the late William and Mary (Jones) Thomas, he earned a B.Th. degree from Eastern Nazarene College, attended Harvard University School of Divinity, and was ordained to Christian Ministry in 1949.

He was the Pastor of South Primitive Methodist Church in New Bedford and Emmanuel Primitive Methodist Church in Methuen, and then served for twenty-nine years at First Primitive Methodist Church in Fall River. He then became Associate Pastor and Minister of Visitation for the First Congregational Church in Fall River and later Minister of Visitation at Christ Methodist Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He was also Protestant Chaplain of Cardinal Medeiros Towers for fifteen years and instituted a program for rotating Protestant Chaplains at Fall River nursing homes.

Rev. Thomas was President of the First Primitive Methodist Church, in the United States of America in 1970 and Superintendent of the New England District for five years.

He served as President of the Greater Fall River Clergy Association and President of the Fall River Council of Churches. He was a member and on the Board of Directors of both the Council of Aging and Home Care, Inc., where he was active in the metamorphosis of the latter into Bristol County Home

Care for Elderly (now Bristol Elder Services, Inc.), serving as Chairman of the Personnel Committee for six years, and receiving a certificate of merit from former Governor Dukakis.

Active with the Boy Scouts of America, Rev. Thomas received the Silver Beaver Award for Outstanding Contributions to Scouting and the Pelican Award for service to Catholic Scouting. He provided Sunday morning Protestant services at Summer Camp Noquochoke and served as an advisor for scouts working through the rigorous requirements for the God and Country Award as well as a member of the Moby Dick Council Board of Directors.

Mr. Thomas also worked in the community as a member of the Fall River Chamber of Commerce, serving on its Board and as a member of the Commodores. He was a recipient of the Outstanding Service Award in 1973. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Deaconess Home, served as a counselor for United Methodist Youth, a member of the Mayor's Committee on Urban Renewal, and was a Founding Member of the Niagara

Neighborhood Association. He was a member and past president of the Fall River Lions Club, as well as an honorary member of the Fall River Country Club, having belonged for over fifty years, playing golf until two years ago.

Surviving are daughters Sandra D. Wood and her husband Donald and Linda J. Thomas, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was the brother of the late Catherine, Vera, William, Melvin, Cyril, Ira, Gweldon, Lurella, Winifred, and Olive.

Private arrangements are in the care of Waring-Sullivan Home of Memorial Tribute at Cherry Place in Fall River. To send a tribute please visit: www.waring-sullivan.com