The Hyphen Family Lineage

[Article "Floyd Thomas Jr." from Huntington County, Indiana History & Families 1834-1993, p387.]

"Tommy" Floyd Jr. was the oldest of Floyd and Mary Bayha Thomas. He graduated from Union Center High School in Union Twp., Huntington County in 1939. He took a post-graduate course at Huntington High School where he met his future wife, Kathryn Stonebraker. Kathryn went to the nursing school at Ann Arbor, MI. When she returned home after graduating as an RN, she and Tommy renewed their friendship. They were married in 1943.

They took up housekeeping in the house where Tommy was born on what is now 500 E. Their first two sons, David Michael and Floyd Joseph were born there. At the death of Tommy's grandparents, they moved to his home at what is now 5199 E., 300 N. There they had two more children, Ann Elizabeth and James Stanley.

Mike married Cheryl Haney in 1963. They moved to Markle where they still live. They have two children, Todd and Tami, and two grandchildren, Jessica and Lacey. Joe lives with his two sons, Scott and Jason at his old homesite at 5199 E., 300 N. Scott will graduate from Huntington High School this spring. Jason will be a junior next fall. Beth married Mike Moss and they are the parents of three boys, Geoffrey, Stephen, and Matthew. They live in Springfield, OH in this current year of 1993. Stan married Cynthia Cummins in 1978. They had two children, Angela and Andrew. Stan died suddenly in 1981.

Tommy farmed with his father. His father, he and his brother Dean were very active during the war years raising special crops for the military. They raised lima beans, peas, hemp and tomatoes. Those were busy years filled with much fun and long hours.

Tommy's CB name was "Tinker" Tom. It was a very apt name as he was "Jack of many trades." He worked on motorcycles, cars, farm machinery, repaired TVs, washers and almost anything that ran. He helped wire many of the homes in and around where he lived. Tommy never knew a stranger. He was friend to many and knew whomever he met in a few moments after he met them.

Kathryn filled her days with homemaking, raising four children and working at her profession of nursing. She currently lives in Florida, where she helped care for her parents until their recent deaths.

Tommy died suddenly in November 1981, just three days after his son Stan's death, with a massive heart attack. A beautiful way to go, but very difficult for family and friends who miss him sorely. But life goes on and he left much joy behind him and sons, daughters, and grandchildren to carry on hus traditions. (Submitted by Jane Anne Thomas, sister to "Tommy.")

[Obituary for Floyd Thomas, Jr., from The Huntington Herald-Press, 9 Nov 1981.]

Floyd (Tommy) Thomas Jr,. 59, Rt. 3, was dead on arrival at 6:30 p.m. Sunday (Nov. 8, 1981) at Wells Community Hospital, Bluffton.

A Union Township farmer, Mr. Thomas was a member of the Tocsin Church of Faith, and a member of the Union Conservation Club.

He was born June 17, 1822 in Huntington County to Floyd and Mary Bayha Thomas Sr. His marriage was on January 29, 1944 to the former Kathryn C. Stonebraker who survives.

Also surviving are two sons, Mike and Joe Thomas, Markle; a daughter, Mrs. Michael (Beth) Moss, Portage; eight grandchildren; the mother, Mrs. Mary Thomas, Fort Wayne; two brothers, Phil Thomas, Phoenix, Ariz. and Dean Thomas, Rt. 3 and a sister Jane Anne Thomas, Flagstaff, Ariz. Deceased are a son, Stan Thomas and the father, Floyd Thomas Sr.

Friends may call at the Meyers Funeral Home, Markle, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, where services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Wednesday, with Thomas Bradley officiating. Burial will be in the Markle Cemetery, and preferred memorials are to the Tocsin Church of Faith.

[It should be noted that Tommy died the day of the funeral for his youngest son, James Stanley Thomas; immediately below Tommy's obituary is the notice of funeral services held for Stanley.]