THOMAS, Ted F. age 72 of Middletown, died Friday, November 14, 2008 at the VITAS Innovative Hospice, Dayton. He was born September 6, 1936 in Harlan County, Kentucky the son of Milt Thomas and Susan (Clem) Thomas. Ted worked at AK Steel, Basic Oxygen Furnace for 42 years, retiring in 1997. He was a member of the First Baptist Church where he taught 5th and 6th grade Sunday School for 19 years. Ted was a Past Master and member F. & A. M. Camden Lodge #159, High Point Lodge #773, Monroe, and Jefferson Lodge #90, Middletown. He was a 32 Degree Mason in the A. A. S. R. Valley of Dayton. Also, he was past President of Middletown Shrine Club, past High Priest of Middletown Chapter #87, past Illustrious Master of Middletown Council #136, past Eminent Commander of Middletown Commandary #71, Knight York Cross of Honor, and the representative for A. A. S. R. Valley of Dayton for Butler County. Ted was a past President of the PTA, Amanda Elementary, and former Athletic Booster Club Pre! sident for Amanda Jr. High and Monroe High School. He was a former knothole coach and commissioner. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Mary Ellen (Roark) Thomas; two sons, Ted Thomas, Jr. of Dallas, Texas, Robert (Bob) Thomas of Kentucky; two grandchildren, Jason Robert "J-Bob" Thomas of Big Spring, Texas, Taylor S Thomas of Duncanville, Texas; one brother, William M. Thomas of Glasgow, Virginia; two sisters, Georgia Thomas Moody of Williamsburg, Virginia, Esther Thomas Mitchell of Cincinnati, Ohio; one uncle, Lawrence Carter of Vero Beach, Florida; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Fred, Rowland and Gilbert Thomas; and his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Robert and Lucy Roark. Ted loved his family, his church, and his lodge work. Those who knew him gained from him as well as he did from those he knew. He was a loving, caring, and sensitive man. He will be missed. Funeral services will be 10:00 AM Monday at the F! irst Baptist Church with the Reverend Ken Fey officiating. Visitation will be 4-7:30 PM Sunday at the Breitenbach-McCoy-Leffler Funeral Home. Masonic services 7:00 PM Sunday followed by a Scottish Rite service. Burial will be at the Woodside Cemetery Memorial contributions may be made to the First Baptist Church Building Fund, 4500 Riverview Avenue, Middletown, Ohio 45042. Condolences may be sent to the family via our website at [email protected] Published in The Middletown Journal on 11/15/2008