Norman Thomas

Services are scheduled at 2:00 P.M. Monday, August 25, at Freewill Baptist Church for Norman D. Martin Thomas, Artesia, New Mexico. Mr. Thomas, 63, died Thursday, August 21, 2003 at his home. Rev. J. B. Craft will officiate at the services with Pastor Rob Gerst assisting. Burial will follow at Woodbine Cemetery with Military graveside rites. Pallbearers will be Donnie Rutledge, John Fenton, and Greg Peters. Mr. Thomas was born September 6, 1939 in Meadow, Texas; the son of Louie Thomas and Helen Emerson Thomas. On August 25, 1956 he was married to Ernestine Spurgeon in Lovington, N.M. He served in the United States Air Force from 1956 to 1959. He came to Artesia in 1994 from Rosamond, Calif. He was an aircraft mechanic, manager of Indian Fire Safety, and was a member of Freewill Baptist Church. Mr. Thomas was preceded in death by his parents; and by a daughter Deborah Lynn. Survivors include his wife Tina Thomas of the family home; daughters Diana Fenton and husband John of Victorville, Calif., Susie Peters and husband Greg of Palmdale, Calif., and Melissa Rutledge and husband Donnie of Artesia; a sister Jeanette Baracz of Lovington; nine grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.