Psalm 139:16 declares “Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.”
Those days numbered 89 years, 4 months and 6 days, and Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023, at 2:25a.m., Major was released from this earthly realm, called to his eternal home.
Major Fred Thomas Jr. was born April 24, 1934, as John Leo Walde at the Saint Ann’s Orphanage in Saint Louis.
The true blessing, at the age of two years, John Leo was welcomed into the loving home of Major F. Thomas Sr. and wife, Eva L. Mertle Thomas in 1936, where he became Major F. Thomas, Jr.
Major spent the first fourteen years of his life in the St. Louis area. He graduated eighth grade from the Little Flower School in Richmond Heights.
In 1948, Major Sr, Eva, Major Jr, with brothers Eldred, Gerald and sister Marilyn moved to a farm just south of Owensville.
Major went on to graduate from Owensville High School in 1952. It was during these formative years, he began to acquire a skillset, developed knowledge and experience with vehicle mechanics.
Major enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he was afforded the opportunity to expand his mechanical education, as he served his country during the Korean War on the USS San Joaquin, LST 1122, and later served as a Naval Reservist.
In April of 1957, Major met the love of his life, the woman he would marry and share 53 years of his life, Erna W. Schmidt. Major and Erna wed June 7, 1958, at the St. Johns United Church of Christ at Woollam. Of this union, they were blessed with two daughters, Pamela and Cynthia.
Major possessed a strong work ethic which he attributed to his father. He found work as a vehicle mechanic for the Sinclair Station in Owensville, later for the MFA. After he and Erna married, they moved to St. Louis where he worked for the St. Louis Public Transit system. In 1959, he began his career with American Bakeries who later transferred him to Kansas City in 1961, just months before the birth of their beloved Pamela.
Major left American Bakeries for an opportunity to work for a well-known truck and car dealer, Bill Allen Chevrolet, where he met lifelong friend, Jim Smith. Major later returned to American Bakeries in 1969.
After a transfer to Monroe, La., where they lived from 1988–91, Major left his job with the bakery as garage superintendent, with the intent of returning to Missouri. Major found employment with Butler Transport, Midwest Towing, and John’s Delivery, eventually going into semi-retirement, allowing him to prepare for a permanent move and pursue retired life at the Lake of the Ozarks.
Major enjoyed hunting, fishing, water-skiing, but soon developed several other hobbies, vehicle restoration, one of which was the conversion of a route bread truck into a camper, later collecting and restoring tractors. During his semi-retirement, Major took a course in the art of creating stained glass pieces, and soon became an accomplished artisan. His gift allowed him to create windows for two churches. St. Paul’s in Cooper Hill, and the Immanuel Lutheran Church of Brauersville located East of Cole Camp. The vast majority of his pieces were given as gifts.
Major had become a 32nd degree Mason, then a Shriner and was a member of the Rising Sun Lodge in Kansas City North. Major and Erna enjoyed traveling, especially for his LST reunions and reconnecting with fellow shipmates. Major served on the Board of the Ivy Bend Volunteer Fire Department. After returning to Owensville, he also served on the Board of the Owensville Ambulance District.
Major and Erna purchased their cabin on the 56.5-mile marker of the Osage arm at the Lake of the Ozarks in 1979. He and Erna would later replace their cabin with a modular built for their retirement, they moved into that home in 2005 and lived there until shortly after Erna’s passing in 2011.
Major returned to his hometown of Owensville, in February of 2013, having purchased a home built by a member of Erna’s family.
Major was a passionate storyteller and took great pride in his ability to deliver stories and jokes that provided laughter and amusement for his audience. Major was so dedicated to his storytelling; he became a published author by sharing his life story in 2019. During the process of delivering his books to various veteran’s facilities, he discovered the Missouri Veterans Home in St. James Missouri. It was during this visit, he determined, that when the time came, this facility was his choice for care. Major became a permanent resident of that facility in July of 2021, where, unfortunately, his vascular dementia began to claim those precious memories and stories.
Major and Erna were members of the Bethel United Church of Christ in Kansas City North. Major served on the church council and taught Sunday school for high school age students. After relocating to their home at the Lake of the Ozarks, they became members of Kent Memorial Lutheran Church. Major has since returned to his Catholic faith.
He was preceded in death by parents, Major F. Thomas, Sr. and Eva Mertle Thomas Withinton; brothers, Eldred Thomas, and Gerald Thomas; mother and father in-law, Flora Rudolph Schmidt and Richard Schmidt; brother-in-law, Jim Shoemaker; beloved wife of 53 years, Erna Wilma Schmidt Thomas; and precious daughter, Pamela.
Major is survived by daughter, Cynthia, her husband and Majors best friend, Jim Smith, and Jim’s son, Steven Smith; sister, Marilyn Thomas Shoemaker her children Sharon Shoemaker Gudermuth and husband Bob, Jerry Shoemaker and wife Ginny, Larry Shoemaker and wife Liz and Jay Shoemaker and wife Teresa; sisters-in-law, Mary Lou Biles Thomas her children Gene Thomas and wife Janice, Dale Thomas and wife Kelly and Susan Thomas and companion Robby Roberson, Norma Picker Thomas her children Valerie Woerndle and husband Ron, Lynnette Hoffman and husband Craig, Connie Ratliffe and husband Paul and Steven Thomas, and Gloria Schmidt Ridder and husband Gene their children Captain Chad Ridder, Dr. Brent Ridder and Paige Ridder Reigel and husband Chris; brother-in-law Glenn Schmidt and wife Patricia and Glenn’s children Sean Schmidt and wife Jennifer and Dana Schmidt, Patricia’s children Debbie Prsha and husband Jerry, Tammy Schneidt and husband Derek and Rob Burg and wife Kelley.
Among his survivors are a number of great-nieces and nephews, cousins, friends from his varying walks of life, childhood friends, his Navy LST brotherhood, church families, neighbors, and companion Mrs. Marjorie Brockman Oney and her cousins who welcomed Major as part of their families.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held Tuesday, Sept. 5, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Owensville with Fr. Philip Kane officiating.
Funeral services were also held Tuesday at Gottenstroeter Funeral Home with Rev. Van Lahmeyer officiating. Burial was in St John’s Old Woollam Cemetery.
Memorials suggested to the Missouri Veterans Home in St. James, in Major’s name or the St. John’s Cemetery.
Arrangements entrusted to Gottenstroeter Funeral Home in Owensville.
