Inurnment services for Ted Mosby Thomas, 81, Linwood, will be 3 p.m. Thursday October 13, 2011, at Oak Hill Cemetery, Lawrence. Mr. Thomas died Friday, Oct. 7, 2011, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.
Ted was an avid reader and craftsman. His talents ranged from his early days in the darkroom, doing black and white photography, to the digital age, where he enjoyed photographing nature. He was an exceptionally skilled woodworker, and exhibited and sold his art in the Phoenix Gallery in Lawrence, Kansas, and at the Best of Kansas City on the Country Club Plaza and Crown Center. He created beautifully crafted boxes for jewelry and collectibles, and did custom woodwork for many of the artists and for the gallery. Ted’s engineering background, working for General Dynamics on the Atlas missile program in the early 1960’s, complemented his artistic skills and allowed him to create innovative and unusual designs. Despite traveling extensively during his Navy days and his working years, he was a country boy at heart, and loved living outside of Lawrence, on a small 5-acre property with his wife, Alice. Ted loved animals of all kinds, starting with the horses and dogs of his childhood, to the cats who kept him company in his woodshop.
We all will sorely miss him.
I have always admired Ted. I looked forward to the times our family went to visit him or he came to see us and I too remember him in uniform in Tennessee. He arrived after my bedtime (I was three)but his voice woke me and I came down the stairs. He lifted me up to say hello before I had to go back to bed. There was something wonderful about him that stays with a person their whole life once they have met him. Anyway that was the case with me. I am fortunate to have known him and I will miss him. My prayers are with you Alice and Debbie. May you find some strength and peace in your sorrow.
Cousin Susan
Alice and Debbie, I am sorry for your loss and I know you will miss your husband Alice and your father Debbie. Although through the years we have had less contact, Ted still made his mark on my life. I remember as a small child seeing him in his Navy blues when he visited us in Tennessee. And it was his photography that was partly responsible for my interest in it as well. I enjoyed seeing his work at the Gallery and I have the beautiful wood butterfly pin that he carved for our grandmother. You both are in my prayers.
Cousin Barbara
Ted will be missed! We all loved him so much here at the gallery. When he came in with his beautiful work, we always enjoyed the great visits we had with him also. He was a remarkable man with amazing talents. Thoughts and prayers to Alice and all the family. We are always here for you.
From everyone at the Phoenix Gallery