John Arthur Thoman, 91, husband of the late Gertrude Roberson Thoman originally of Pikeville, died Monday, March 29, 2010 of complications from pneumonia at his home in Nashville. He is survived by three daughters '“ Sr. Elizabeth Thoman, CHM, of Los Angeles, CA; Patricia (Charles) Young of Gaithersburg, MD and Mary Lynn Thoman, Nashville; three sons '“ James, John Jr., and Lawrence (Beth), all of the Nashville area and 5 grandchildren. Born April 25, 1918 and raised in Baltimore, MD, he was graduated from St. John'™s Prep in Brooklyn, NY. He received mechanical training at National University, Los Angeles. In 1941, he took a position at Vultee Aircraft, Nashville, where he met and courted Pikeville native Gertrude Roberson. They married June 10, 1942. During World War II he served honorably on the home front in the Air Corps Enlisted Reserve (ACER) as a toolmaker and inspector for airplanes. Until his retirement in 1984, he worked in various sales positions in the automotive and construction industries in Middle Tennessee and was active in many civic and religious causes. He received the Long Rifle Award for noteworthy service to youth from Middle Tennessee Council, Boy Scouts of America and the prestigious St. George Award from the Catholic Diocese of Nashville. Visitation will be on Monday, April 5 from 2-4 and 6-8 at Marshall Donnelly Combs. Following the Mass of the Resurrection at St. Patrick'™s Catholic Church,1219 2nd Ave.,South,in Nashville on Tuesday, April 6, the body will be brought to the Pikeville Funeral Home for visitation Tuesday evening from 5 '“ 8 pm with a short service at 7 pm. Burial will be next to his wife in the Pikeville City Cemetery at 10 am Wednesday.
