Virgil C. Thomas, 99, of Kimball, TN died Friday, May 11, 2012.

Born October 22, 1912 at Summerfield, TN to the late John William and Katherine Hunt Thomas, he had been a resident of Kimball, Tennessee since 1934 and was an active church member and leader with Churches of Christ. Mr. Thomas was a self employed coal miner for 50 years, retiring in 1988 and had served as Marion County Road Commissioner in the 1960s. His hard work and dedication to his community were honored in 1966 with the Sertoma International Service to Mankind award, in 2000 by the Lions International Distinguished Service award and he was mentioned in several historical books and news items for his dedication to the surrounding communities. He also received recognition from the Church of Christ in Kimball for having been a member since 1938, a teacher since 1958 and an elder since 1960.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Ellen Thomas and son, Virgil Edward "Buddy" Thomas.

He is survived by his children, Dionne Thomas Woods of Naples, Florida and Ronald (Peggy) Thomas of Kimball; grandchildren, Sherrill (Norma) Woods, Jr. David (Christine) Woods, Alan (Susan) Woods, Melanie (Happy) Huddleston, Tom Thomas, Chele Thomas Bible, Patricia Thomas (Jon) White, Cristy
Thomas and sixteen great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be conducted from the South Pittsburg Chapel of Rogers Funeral Home at 2pm Central time on Tuesday, May 15, 2012 with Rusty Hargis officiating. Interment will be in Sequatchie Valley Memorial Gardens in Jasper.

The family will receive friends for visitation on Monday, May 14th from 5-9 pm Central time at Rogers Funeral Home in South Pittsburg.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Hospice of Chattanooga, 4411 Oakwood Avenue, Chattanooga, TN 37416, www.hospiceofchattanooga.org or the Gospel Broadcasting Network, 3969 Cloud Springs Road, Ringgold, GA 30736, www.gbntv.org.