Dr. John Paul Thomas

Glover Funeral Home of Dothan

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Posted by: Glover Funeral Home
[email protected]
334-699-3888
Date: Aug 18 2023 12:43 PM

Dr. John Paul Thomas passed away on August 16 at his home in Dothan. He was 88 years old. He was born on January 20, 1935, in Geneva County to the late Reverend A.G. Thomas and Katie Spikes Thomas.

John spent his early years in Geneva, Hartford, and Black and graduated from Rehobeth High School. He went on to earn degrees from State Teachers College, now Troy University, as well as Emory University Candler School of Theology. John was the great-grandson of a circuit-riding United Methodist pastor who ministered throughout the area in the 1850s and started the Headland United Methodist Church. In 1952, he followed in the footsteps of his great-grandfather and his father, becoming a United Methodist pastor and beginning a ministry that would span more than 65 years. In the early 1950s, he was involved in the groundwork to start what later became the Cloverdale United Methodist Church. He served the United Methodist Church throughout the region in Dothan, Mexico Beach, Enterprise, Newton, and Cottonwood. In 1962, he became the Associate Pastor of the Dexter Avenue United Methodist Church in Montgomery where he was honored by Governor George Wallace who named him Honorary Chaplain of the House of Representatives. From 1972 until 1986, he was Assistant Dean of Students at Wallace College where he was instrumental in starting the school’s respiratory therapy program. He also served churches in Pensacola, Webb, Uriah, Selma, and Phenix City where he retired in 2005. Following retirement, he returned to Dothan which he always considered his home. In 2008, he returned to the ministry serving Piney Grove United Methodist Church where he remained until his second retirement in 2018.

John served on the Houston County Hospital Board from 1975 through 1981. He loved his family and the congregations that he served. Throughout his lifetime, John made many treasured friends, both among his fellow ministers as well as in the communities where he lived.

Survivors include his devoted wife of 69 years Mary Cobb Thomas and sons Gregory Paul (Beth) Thomas and Jonathan Wesley Thomas, MD. Other survivors include granddaughters Meghan Rae Thomas and Mary Emma Hawley as well as his brother Sherwood (Betty) Thomas and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by grandson Jonathan Alec Thomas. John was also preceded in death by his brothers Raimon Gordon Thomas, Ralph Thomas, James Addis Thomas, Joseph Miles Thomas, Michael Angus Thomas, and William Adger Thomas as well as sisters Margaret Thomas Smith and JoAnn Thomas McDaniel.

Funeral services will be held Monday, August 21 at 2:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Dothan. Visitation for family and friends will begin at 1:00 until 1:45 p.m.

Glover Funeral Home will be directing.

Glover Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements. Please sign the guestbook online at www.gloverfuneral.com 334-699-3888

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