Raymond Arthur Thomas, 88 of Pylesville, MD, died on Friday, December 22, 2023. Married for 68 years at the time of her death in December of 2022, he was the beloved husband of Ella Mae (Baker) Thomas. Born on May 30, 1935, he was the last and 13th child of the late Samuel Frederick Thomas and Ruth Edith (Linton) Thomas. Raymond came along during the years following the Great Depression and his childhood was difficult as well as for his 6 other siblings that lived to adulthood. Each child had been sent to families to work for room and board as the family was extremely poor having lost their home when the banks closed. The family lived on the farm of the Adams Family in Rocks, MD until they moved onto RT. 24 in Rocks. Raymond stayed with his parents to care for his mother who was suffering from cancer. Missing most of the first grade due to absences to caring for her, Raymond repeated first grade at the former Highland School; he found himself in the same class as Ella Mae Baker. Years later when they entered the newly built North Harford High School in Pylesville, MD, he asked Ella Mae on a date in the 11th grade. This grew into a lifelong romance; Ella Mae was the center of his life for 70 years.

In the school year-1953 to 1954, ten high school senior boys drove the school busses for the late Marshal Heaps where Raymond drove the difficult route of the area around Whiteford and the Boy Scout Camp. Ella Mae would ride along and then Raymond would take her home. Following graduation in the fourth class at NHHS in 1954, Raymond joined the US Army and asked Ella Mae to marry him. Just prior to deployment to Germany, they were married. During his service, David was born and in September of 1957, he returned to his new family. Patti was born the following summer. Raymond secured employment with the former Davidson Transfer Company as a tire change technician and made the way up the ladder to running the truck yard in Baltimore. One of the clients was the former Baltimore Colts, and he was given ballgame tickets often on the 50-yard line. Not a great football fan, he gave them to David and Patti to enjoy the games. He later worked for Blue Diamond Moving & Storage who bought Davidson and retired after a combined 55+years of service. He also worked part time for the former Hicks Brothers Service Station in Forest Hill, MD.

Raymond had a strong faith in God and had attended North Harford Baptist Church where he was a Sunday School teacher for the junior boys (ages 11-14.) He coached the church softball team, drove the church bus for games and youth activities as well as fixing the old bus when it broke down. He later attended Fawn Grove Church of the Nazarene and since his wife's death, was a familiar face at Fawn Grove Community Church.

Raymond was a 51 plus year member and served as Worshipful Master in 1978 of Esdraelon Lodge #176 A.F. & A. M. of Cardiff, MD.

Raymond was always giving to those less fortunate and would be sure his family and friends had what they needed. When asked, his family remarked that he was a hard man to get to know; however, they will always be grateful for the strong work ethic he instilled in them. A self-made man, he was always grateful to God for his life accomplishments. Since Ella Mae's death, his wish was to be with her for Christmas; God heard his prayer and in the evening of Friday, December 22, he joined her.

He is survived by:

Two children-

David W. Thomas (Gail Smith) of White Hall, MD

Patricia C. Hushon (Jeffrey Lovelidge) of Delta, PA

Five grandchildren – Amy Kraft, Joshua Hushon, Sara Ward, Jacob Hushon and Joseph Hushon.

Eight great grandchildren – Clara, Henry, Toby, Beckham, Trace, Lyla, Dalton and Violet.

He was preceded in death by his 12 siblings.

Services will be held on Saturday, December 30th in Fawn Grove Community Church, 67 S. Market St., Fawn Grove, PA with a visitation from 2-3 p.m. At 3 p.m., military honors will be presented by the York County Veterans Honor Guard with the colors presented by the Legion Riders of the American Legion Post #182, Whiteford, MD. A private interment will be held in Jarrettsville Cemetery. Reverend William Jones, his pastor, will officiate.

Serving as pallbearers will be his grandsons: Joshua, Jacob and Joseph Hushon; his nephews: Stephen Thomas and Dennis Linkous; Chris Ward.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Juvenile Diabetes: JDRF, 200 Vesey Street, 28th Floor, New York, NY 10281 www.2.jdrf.org