Emporia - Guilford “Gil” Thomas, 90, passed away on Monday, October 13, 2025, at Flint Hills Care and Rehab in Emporia, Kansas. He was born on August 11, 1935, in Auburn, Nebraska, the son of Everage and Alvin (Thies) Thomas.

Gil grew up on the ancestral farm outside of Nemaha, Nebraska and had lived in Elk Creek Nebraska and Reading KS before moving to Osage City where he had lived for over 50 years. He had lived in Emporia KS for the last two years.

Gil graduated from Peru State College in Nebraska where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree. He received his Master’s Degree from Emporia State University. He served in the Nebraska National Guard from 1957 to 1963. He was a teacher and administrator in Braton Union Consolidated Schools, Douglas County Schools, and Elk Creek High School in Nebraska before becoming the Industrial Arts and business teacher at Reading High School and Melvern High School. During this time, he worked several summers at the Corps of Engineers at Lake Pomona. He then worked in maintenance at Emporia State University for over 25 years. After his retirement, he began working at the Osage County transfer station. Gil was a very active member of the Grace Lutheran Church in Osage City and served many years on the Church Council. He served a term on the Osage City School Board, a term on the Tri-County Special Education Cooperative Board, was a club leader for the Willing Workers 4-H Club, a member of the Kiwanis and delivered Meals On Wheels for 30 years.

On June 30, 1962, Gil was united in marriage to Norma Lee Armstrong in Auburn, Nebraska. To this union four children were born, Sarah, Donnita, Larry and Charles.

Gil was preceded in death by his wife, Norma on February 10, 2023; by his brother in law, Vaughn Thompson; and by Norma’s brother and sister in law, Glen and Catharine Armstrong.

Gil is survived by his two sons, Larry Thomas of Emporia and Charles Thomas and wife Kristi of Converse, Texas and Gil’s granddaughter, Angel Thomas; by his two daughters, Sarah Thomas and Donnita Thomas, both of Topeka; by his sister, Marjorie Thompson of Topeka; and by other relatives and friends.

Funeral services for Gil will be at 3:00pm on Wednesday, October 22 at the Grace Lutheran Church in Osage City. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 7:30pm on Tuesday at the Feltner Funeral Chapel in Lyndon. Burial will be in the Nemaha Cemetery in Nemaha, Nebraska on Thursday at 11:00am. Memorial contributions in memory of Gil may be made to Grace Lutheran Church in Osage City sent in care of Feltner Funeral Home, 818 Topeka Avenue, Lyndon, KS 66451. Online condolences for the family may be left at feltnerfuneralhome.com ***