Reverend Leroy Thomas

Richard was born August 6, 1949 to H. Leroy Thomas and Polly Jane Kerns Thomas. He felt the call to ministry in his early teens and was active in the Good Shepherd Evangelical United Brethren Church. He graduated from Circleville High School in 1967. The following fall he began his college career at Otterbein College majoring in History and Education graduating with honors in June 1971. In the spring of his freshman year he began dating the love of his life and future wife Jeanette Robinson. They married June 3, 1971 three days before their graduation. They moved to United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio where Rich began a summer program leading to 3 years of Seminary and one year of Clinical Pastoral Education. While in Seminary he also did substitute teaching and played a lot of ping pong. Rich was ordained a Deacon in the United Methodist Church in 1974. During his seminary career he also served Twin Creek Chapel United Church of Christ and Arlington United Methodist Church in Brookville, Ohio.

Following his Ordination as an Elder by Bishop Gerald Ensley, January 11, 1976 at his home church in Circleville Rich served the following churches in the West Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church: Vandalia United Methodist Church as an Associate for 1 year; Fort Jefferson United Methodist Church for 5 years; Woodville United Methodist Church for 10 years; Maize Manor United Methodist Church for 4 ½ years; and Milford First United Methodist Church where he retired after 17 years.

Following retirement he and Jennie moved to Wesley Ridge Retirement Community in Reynoldsburg to be close to their two sons. In retirement Rich served as Interim Pastor for Liberty United Methodist Church and then he began his chaplaincy ministry at Wesley Ridge where he worked for 10 years retiring for his second time on May 31, 2023. Rich also worked part time for Newcomer Funeral Home in a support staff capacity. Following this retirement Rich, Jennie their children and grandchildren enjoyed a week long cruise to Alaska on the Westerdam.

Rich is survived by his loving wife of 52 years Jennie; his son John Mark, wife Samantha Jean and grandson Aiden Francis, his son Matthew Richard, wife Ashley Dawn, grandson Nicholas Matthew and granddaughter Hayden Elizabeth; his brother Reverend Robert L Thomas, wife Mary Beth and his niece Kate.

Rich was a loving, compassionate, generous person to all he knew and he will be missed by all his family, residents of Wesley Ridge and his many friends.

A Memorial Service will be held at Broad Street United Methodist Church, 501 East Broad Street
Columbus, OH 43215-3822 on Saturday August 19 at 1:00 pm with a reception to follow. Parking is available in the lot across from the church

A Memorial Service for Wesley Ridge will be on Sunday, August 20 at 2:00pm

In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to Broad Street United Methodist Church, 501 E Broad Street Columbus, Ohio 43215 or to the Wesley Ridge Charitable Fund (Online: https://lec.org/foundation/donate/wesley-general-donation/