Billy Joe Ballard Thomas, 86, of Welch, Okla., died at 8:20 p.m., Thursday, August 26, 2021, at Freeman West in Joplin, Mo.
Born March 10, 1935, in Welch, Okla., Bill was the son of William and Effie (Jones) Thomas. They preceded him in death. Bill was also preceded in death by a daughter, Kimberlea Davis in 2012. Bill grew up and attended school in Chetopa and graduated from Chetopa High School with the class of 1953.
For most of his adult life, Bill worked as a carpenter. He was also an avid baseball player and had played on the Chetopa High School baseball team. He had also been very active in youth baseball in Chetopa for many years. Bill and Jim Belknap acquired the land from the
Bill and Jim Belknap acquired the land from the Chetopa School Board and then Bill, Jim, Henry Bell and others worked to build the little league ball field where Bill served as one of the many coaches that used the field. He attended the Chetopa Assembly of God and later the Community Bible Church.
Bill and Sharon Wilson were united in marriage November 5, 1959 in a private ceremony at Miami, Okla. Following their marriage, they lived in Chetopa until moving to Welch in 1989 where they have lived since. She survives, of the home.
In addition to his wife, Bill is survived by his son Victor A. Thomas, of Joplin, Mo., daughters, Ranita Thomas of Welch, Okla. and Bonna Bayliss of Fairland, Okla. and son-in-law Tom Davis of Columbus. Five grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren also survive.
Funeral services were held Tuesday, August 31 at the Community Bible Church in Chetopa. Reverend Randy Frazier officiated. Burial was at the Lake Creek Cemetery near Bartlett.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the Community Bible Church and these may be left at, or mailed to the Bath-Forbes-Hoffman Funeral Home, PO Box 346, Chetopa, Kansas 67336.