OPAL THOMAS, 96

Opal Thomas, 96, of Fremont, died Tuesday, Jan. 16, 2001, at A. J. Merrick Manor in Fremont.

Private family memorial services will be held at a later date. Interment will be at Arlington Cemetery.

Opal Thomas was born March 24, 1904 in Modale, Iowa to James and Fannie (Smith) McManimie. She grew up at Modale and graduated from Modale High School. She moved to Missouri Valley, Iowa, in 1923, and then moved to Arlington in 1942. She was a telephone operator for the Arlington Telephone Co. for many years. Mrs. Thomas moved to Fremont in 1975.

On July 16, 1923, she married William Thomas at Council Bluffs, Iowa.

She was a charter member of American Legion Auxiliary Post # 8332 at Arlington.

She is survived by two sons, Harold Thomas of Northridge, Calif.; and G. Wayne Thomas of Sioux City, Iowa; two daughters and sons-in-law, Norma and Paul Menking of Arlington; and Judy and Foye Manuel of Lowell, Ohio; 16 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

She was preceded in death by her husband; a son, David; three daughters, Jane Schlapfer, Louise Thomas, and an infant; a sister, Hazel Behm; and four brothers, Paul, Vernon, Marvin and Dwight McManimie.

Memorials are suggested to Arlington Hiigh School Educational Fund and the Arlington Library.

Moser Memorial Chapel in Fremont was in charge of arrangements.