South Burlington, VT George Wayne Thomas George Wayne Thomas, 99, most recently of The Pines Senior Living Community in South Burlington, died peacefully surrounded by members of his family on September 21, 2011, at the Burlington Health & Rehabilitation Center. He was born in Montpelier on May 28, 1912, the son of Pearl (Kellogg) and George Thomas. He grew up in Middlesex and attended school in Middlesex and Montpelier including the Montpelier Seminary, which later became Vermont College. George Wayne started working at an early age helping neighboring farmers in Middlesex hay their fields, collect sap buckets, mend fences, and anything else that would raise a little pocket money. As the eldest child, he also would often barter his services in exchange for milk, eggs, wood or other supplies to help his family. In between chores, he enjoyed reading Zane Grey westerns, and liked to recall summer afternoons reading them under a shade tree. After high school, he started working with a friend of his father's at a granite shed in Montpelier, and then took a job at the Socony Service Station on State Street, before moving on to many other types of service oriented jobs that became available to him. On June 30,1933, he married the love of his life, Dorothy Frances Cooney of Middlesex. They were wed at the home of Rev. Hazelton of Waterbury, and were married for 71 years. On July 30, 1942, George enlisted in the Armed Forces, where he was assigned to the 82nd Airborne Division after extensive training as a paratrooper and attained the rank of Sergeant. On Feb. 9, 1946 he was honorably discharged after serving almost 4 years in France and Germany but continued working as a civilian for the military in Frankfurt, Germany before coming home to Vermont in 1947. George and his wife Dorothy made their home in Burlington for many years, where he started Burlington Office Supply, which served the Burlington area for many years. George could repair most any type of typewriter, adding machine, mimeograph or other business equipment of the day. Wayne, as family and many of his friends called him, was a passionate pool player and, in his later years, his days revolved around playing pool with his friends at the Pines Senior Living Community. He could teach most anybody to play pool, and had a wide assortment of pool tricks up his sleeve. He loved playing pool so much that he donated a professional pool table to the Pines, which will be enjoyed by the residents for years to come. He always enjoyed family reunions and annual golf outings. Other interests included the Boston Red Sox, basketball, fishing, electronics, painting (which he took up with gusto at the age of 96), magic and card tricks. For the past six years, George Wayne Thomas enjoyed writing a monthly newspaper column on his life and times for the Middlesex Newspaper entitled "Remembering my Life in Middlesex from 1917 to1929 and Beyond." He could remember even the smallest details from years gone by, as his mind remained sharp and clear until the day he passed away. Wayne was a generous and highly respected man of great integrity; he never complained and had a great sense of humor. He was a devoted son, husband, brother, uncle and friend. Survivors include sister Dorothy Perry of Montpelier, two brothers, Charles Thomas of Saint Albans and Robert Thomas of Barre, and numerous nieces and nephews. His wife Dorothy who passed away on June 12, 2005; two sisters, Laura Guazzoni and Leona Marsha, and one brother Willard Thomas, also preceded him. Calling hours will be held at the Guare Funeral Home in Montpelier on Sunday Sept. 25th from 4 to 6pm. A service of remembrance will be Monday Sept. 26th at 1pm at the Guare Funeral Home. Burial will follow at the Middlesex Center Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Vermont Disaster Relief Fund (United Way), at 802-652-4636 or www.vermont211.org