Obituaries - Death Notices - Funeral Cards

July 20, 1949   Middletown Journal, Middletown, Ohio

Mark A. Thomas, 82, Widely Known Paper Manufacturer, Dies
    Mark Albert Thomas, retired Middletown and industrialist and member of a pioneer Miami Valley family, died at 4:20 a.m. today at his home on Route 25.
    Mr. Thomas was president of the Wardlow-Thomas Pper Company here until his retirement in 1944, when he sold his interests to the Philip Carey Company of Cincinnati. It later was purchased by the Prairie States Paper Company, but now is operated by the Owens-Illinois Glass Company.
    Born in Hamilton, the son of the late Mr. and Mrs. J. K. Thomas, Mr. Thomas came with his family to Middletown when he was a year old. His father founder, of Wardlow-Thomas Company, established the family at Yankee Road and Main Street.
    Mr. Thomas became president of the company upon the death of his father in 1906. The firm produced rope paper, wadding for shotguns and a waterproof lining for flour sacks. Until 1936 it was the only mill producing shotgun wadding, and all of its products found a ready market through a Cincinnati distributor.
    Educated in Middletown schools, Mr. Thomas attended Kenyon College, then entered business with his father. He became expert in the paper business and his knowledge was widely sought after. In addition to his own plant, he took an active interest in the Raymond Bag Company, and at the time of his death was serving as vice-president and director.
    He was one of the organizers of the Raymond Bag Company when it was purchased in Cincinnati and moved to Middletown in 1910. He was also an organizer of the Advance Bag Company with the late James Lawrence, before the turn of the century. They later sold their interests to the late Col. M. W. Renick, and the firm now known as the Southern Advance Bag Company is located in Louisiana and is one of the large companies in the south.
    He also was director of the Ogelsby-Barnitz Bank and Trust Company, and for many years he was a financial advisor of the First Presbyterian church and one of its trustees. In his early years he was active in the Elks Lodge.
    Since retirement he has devoted himself to his farming interests on Route 25, one of the oldest in this vicinity. The home was built in 1811 and Mr. Thomas was the third owner.
    Mr. Thomas had been in failing health for more than a year, but his condition did not become critical until a week ago.
    Friends may call at the residence after 8 p.m. tonight, and after 4 p.m. Thursday. Elks services will be held Thursday night. Funeral services will be held at the First Presbyterian Church at 2 p.m. Friday. Burial will be in the family lot at Woodside Cemetery.
    Surviving him are one daughter, Mrs. Margaret Crane of South Main Street; two sisters Mrs. M. T. Barnitz and Mrs. C. E. Woodward, of the family residence, four grandchildren, William Crane of Huntington, Long Island, Mrs. William Crawford, Mrs. James Martindale, and Mrs. Ames Gardner, all of Middletown.
Honorary pallbeares at the funeral service will be Ed Frisch, Richard Dowling, E. T. Gardner, David E. Harlan, Charles E. Aull, Nathan Long and Frank Carlry.
Active Pallbearers will be Walter P. Lawrence, John Roche, Russell Weatherwax, Colin Gardner, Sr., Robert B. Gardner, George Brown and Everett Bake of Monroe.
Wilson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.