Roger THOMAS

1935 - 2021

THOMAS, Roger E.

Age 85, of Hamilton, passed into glory January 13, 2021, at Fort Hamilton Hospital after a two week battle with the Coronavirus. He was born on February 21, 1935, the son of Wilbur and Mildred (Border) Thomas. He was a 1953 graduate of Springfield High School, where he was captain and star running back of the football team, and a member of the track team as well as senior class president. He played football and was also on the track team at Ohio University in 1953 and 1954 then transferred to Wittenberg University in Springfield. Roger married Dorothy Ann Cordell on August 27, 1955, in Springfield, Ohio. He was employed with the Cincinnati Insurance Company for 35 years from 1963 to 1998. He began as a Small Claims Adjustor and finished his career as Vice President, Administrative Claims Manager. In the 1980's he was responsible for moving the company from a paper file system to a new computer system format. In 2007, Roger initiated the effort to honor Hayward Junior High's long time coach and beloved student mentor, Al Turner. The Coach Al Turner Memorial Foundation was formed for the dual purpose of honoring Al Turner by naming the Hayward Junior High gym after him and by establishing college scholarships in his name for student athletes. The Al Turner Foundation formally joined with the Springfield Foundation in 2011. Roger was an avid golfer, runner, photographer and bridge player. He lloved camping at the family farm in Chillicothe, sharing in a family tradition that lasted 5 generations over 75 years. He was a big Ohio State Football fan and a member of Westside Christian Church. He is survived by his children, Robin (C.R.) Barnett, Lake Odessa, MI; Kyle Thomas, Hamilton; Lora Fabio (Charles Sanders), Raleigh, NC; Kara (Adam) Paul, Fort Myers, FL; Ryan (Angie) Thomas, Cincinnati; fourteen grandchildren and twenty great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy (September 28, 2020), parents and brother Don

Thomas. A private visitation at Weigel Funeral Home, 980 Washington Blvd., Hamilton, was held on Friday, January 15, and interment at Vale Cemetery in Springfield took place on Saturday. The family hopes to hold a public memorial service in the summer. Online condolences are available at

www.weigelfuneralhome.com Memorials may be directed to "The Coach Al Turner Memorial Scholarship Fund" at Springfield Foundation, 333 North Limestone Street, Suite 201, Springfield, Ohio, 45503. www.springfieldfoundation.org.