Dr. Frank A. Thomas Jr.
Frank Almerine Thomas, Jr., 96, of Beaumont, Texas, passed away on August 6, 2020 in Silsbee, Texas.
Visitation will be on Tuesday, August 11, 2020 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Claybar Kelley-Watkins Funeral Home in Beaumont. A graveside service will be held at Forest Lawn Memorial Park on Wednesday, August 12, 2020 at 10:00 a.m.
Frank was born to Frank A Thomas, Sr. and Lois Opal Hall Thomas on January 14, 1924, in Atlanta, Georgia. He was later joined by sisters Jane Ellen Thomas LeVaughn, Cecil Ann Thomas Miner, and brother Louis Opal Thomas.
As a child, Frank lived in Atlanta, Georgia; Memphis, Tennessee; and Uniontown, Alabama, where he graduated from high school. He joined the Marines after high school and through the V-12 program, attended college at Auburn, Duke, and Purdue, where he graduated as a Mechanical Engineer.
Frank married Dorothy “Dot” Havens in June 1947. During their 73-year marriage, they had three children: Sarah, Nancy, and Frank, III. The love and care of his family was always a priority, and he provided lovingly for them. As the children grew older, he discovered the joys of camping in the American West and there were many delightful family vacations.
Frank was also a devoted church member, particularly at Calder Baptist Church where he had the longest tenure. He was always a gentleman and in his later years as his health declined, his caretakers always loved him for his kindness,
After his marriage, he attended Georgia Tech where he earned a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering.
In 1958, Frank began his career teaching and administering at the college level. He moved to Beaumont, Texas to become Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Lamar Tech. During his tenure, he moved up the administrative rank ending up as University president from 1969 -1971. He believed passionately in advanced education at all levels, including technical training, certification, two-year programs, baccalaureate programs and graduate programs.
After leaving Lamar, he served in the administration at the University of Toledo and San Antonio College. He retired to Orange, Texas, and then returned to Beaumont.
Frank was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Lois Thomas; siblings, Jane LeVaughn, Cecil Miner, and Louis Thomas; and son-in-law Derry Tutt.
Frank is survived by his wife Dot Thomas, daughter Sarah Tutt of Fort Worth, Texas, daughter and son-in-law Nancy and William McLean of Silsbee, Texas, and son and daughter-in-law Frank and Vicki Thomas of Toledo Ohio; seven grandchildren, Elynne Tutt Hoyt, Thomas Tutt, Grant McLean, David McLean, Joy Thomas Hester, Jesse Thomas, and Jennifer Thomas Mercurio; and 15 great-grandchildren.
In Lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to Calder Baptist Church in Beaumont, Texas, or to Lamar University.
At Lamar, donations can be made in Dr. Thomas’s memory to Lamar University Foundation at PO Box 11500, Beaumont, TX 77710 or at www lamar.edu/give.