Edwin A Thomas

Edwin Alfonso Thomas, Jr., 80, also known as Ed, passed away peacefully at his home, in Salem Oregon, Monday, October 17, 2016  with his wife, Gerrie, by his side.

He was born on July 16, 1936 in Los Angeles, California to Edwin Alfonso and Eva Madeline Thomas. He was the second of four children. He graduated from Van Nuys High School in 1955, where he met his sweetheart, Gerrie Nielsen.

Ed and Gerrie were married on March 23, 1957 in Van Nuys, California. From this union, Ed and Gerrie were blessed with four children: Teri Lee (Robinson), Edwin Alfonso III (deceased), Stacie Christina and Kelly Shawn (Williams)  They had 6 Grandchildren, Jamie Robinson Walton, Tyler Robinson, Kaitlyn Rose Williams, Taylor Williams, Joshua Williams, and Madelyn Williams,  and 4 Great Grandchildren.

As a young man, Ed worked several jobs ( newspaper routes, gas station attendant and more),  to help his family make ends meet. When they married he was working in a gas station, but attended LA Trade Tec to become a Brick Mason.  He was expected to follow in the family line. He was the fourth generation of his family to train as a brick mason.  However, after a short time he realized that was not his calling.

He had a great admiration of his father-in-law, Lamar Jay Nielsen (Niel), who was a self-made man.  He saw the achievements Niel had made and so began his journey into the business world. He spent 17 years in the boat business and 20 years in the motorhome business.  He ventured further into commercial real estate.  Ed loved work and never expected to obtain anything without it.  He came to Oregon in 1997 where he and Gerrie built a home; a brick home!

Ed is survived by his wife of 59 years (Gerrie), three daughters and two sons-in-law (Teri and Kris Robinson of California, Stacie Thomas of Utah and Kelly and Troy Williams of California), five grandchildren (Jamie Robinson-Walton, Tyler Robinson, Taylor Williams, Joshua Williams and Madelyn Williams), his sister (Eva Chrysler), his mother-in-law (Blanch McBride Nielsen) and brother-in-law and his wife (Terry and Kathy Nielsen).

Ed was preceded in death by his parents (Edwin Alfonso and Eva Madeline Thomas), his brothers (Eugene and Earl Daniel Thomas), his son (Edwin Alfonso Jr.) his granddaughter (Kaitlyn Rose Williams) and father-in-law (LaMarr J.  Nielsen).

Funeral service will be held Saturday October 29, 2016 at 11:00 AM at the LDS Cloverdale Building located at 3645 Cloverdale Dr SE, Turner, OR 97392.