HAROLD EDWARD THOMAS was 81,
born June 4, 1939, in Malden, Mo., to Asa C. Thomas and Hazel Selby Thomas. After a long battle with Parkinson’s disease, he went home to Jesus, January 26, 2021, at home surrounded by his family in Sherwood, Ark. Harold graduated from Leachville High School in 1957 and earned a Master’s degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Arkansas State University. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1957 to 1961.
He was married to Loretta Carline Thomas for 38 years and they shared a family of three sons and a daughter. Harold worked in Blytheville and Magnolia for Arkansas Rehabilitation Services and then moved to Little Rock as a State Administrator for the organization. He was a long time member and served as a greeter at Baring Cross Baptist Church. Harold enjoyed spending time with his family, traveling with his lovely wife, watching sports on television, and playing golf. He was a ‘huge fan’ of the Arkansas State Red Wolves and held season tickets for decades to the Red Wolves football games.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Lucy Carnell; three brothers, Roy Selby, James Earl, and Asa Thomas. He is survived by his wife, Loretta Carline Juarez Thomas, daughter Renee Hill (Darren) of Sherwood; and sons, Kevin Thomas (Sheri) of Sherwood, Greg Manning (Teena) of Lakeland, Tenn., and Phillip Manning (Kelly) of Spring, Texas,; and a sister, Judy Thomas of Goodyear, Ariz. Harold, known as “Poppy” by his eight grandsons, Blake (Skylar), Johnathan, Zach (Ashley), Caleb, Dylan, Scotty, Daniel, Caden; two granddaughters, Eden and Kennedy; a great-granddaughter Zoe, and he would have loved meeting his great-grandson, Fisher, who will arrive in February.
Visitation is Friday from 4-6 pm at Griffin Leggett Rest Hills Funeral Home, 7724 Landers Road, North Little Rock, Ark. 72117. Funeral service will be on Saturday at 2 pm at Baring Cross Baptist Church, 3501 Baring Cross Road, Sherwood, Ark. 72120. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in his name to the Baring Cross Baptist Church. Please remember to ware your mask and practice safe social distancing. Please leave condolences to the family at www.griffinleggettresthills.com.