Obituary of Emory Augustus Thomas

Emory Augustus Thomas, 90, passed away on December 15, 2019 at his home in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He was born on December 2, 1929 in Winston-Salem, NC, to Freeman John and Mary (Johnston) Thomas. Emory graduated from Old Town High School in 1947. After high school he: • graduated from Pfeiffer Jr. College, Misenheimer, NC in 1949 • attended the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, where he received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business in 1951 • served in the US Navy Reserve (1951-1954) at the rank of Lieutenant JG, stationed on the USS Braine during the Korean War • was a former Chairman and Lifetime Honorary Member of the National Food Manufacturers Credit Association • retired as Director of Corporate Credit from RJR Nabisco in 1988, where he worked for 32 years. In 1956, Emory married Mary Louise Mitchell (Burlington, NC). They recently celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary in November, 2019. Emory was a member of Bethabara Moravian Church since childhood and served in the following positions: choir member, member of the board, chairman of the building committee, and band member. He enjoyed fishing, boating, gardening, singing and watching car races. Emory’s greatest pleasure was spending time with his grandchildren. Emory was preceded in death by his father Freeman Thomas, his mother Mary Johnston Thomas and his sister Jane Thomas Bellamy. Emory is survived by his spouse, Mary; his daughters, Christine (Steve) Parsons of Lady’s Island, SC, Susan (John) Geis of Winston-Salem, NC and Kathryn (Scott) McMorris of Belmont, NC; loving grandchildren, Patrick Parsons, Camille Parsons, Hammond Geis, Hayley Geis, Thomas Geis, Kayla McMorris and Ethan McMorris; and multiple nieces and nephews. A celebration of his life will be held at Bethabara Moravian Church at 2:00 p.m. on December 27, 2019 with Reverend Don Griffin. Memorial donations may be made to Trellis Supportive Care, Attention: Finance, 101 Hospice Lane, Winston-Salem, NC 27103.