Obituary: Philip Ward Thomas

Born: September 17, 1958 in Fullerton, Calif.

Died: February 28, 2011 in Reno, Nevada

Philip Ward Thomas spent his early years in Southern California and Chelan, Wash., moving to Carson City in 1973. He graduating from Carson High School on June 8,1976. He attended the Reno campus of the University of Nevada, graduating with a degree in journalism on May 18, 1985.

Soon after graduation he moved to Wenatchee, Wash., joining the Wenatchee World newspaper, working as a reporter, covering everything from Wenatchee to the Canadian border.

One of his human interest stories was picked-up by the Associated Press and published nationally. Returning to Reno, he joined U.S. Gypsum in Empire, near Gerlach, and remained with them for a few years. He loved the greater Gerlach area as he was an avid outdoorsman, hunter and gunsmith, being federally licensed to buy and sell guns.

He was elected to justice of the peace in Gerlach, serving six years. He received high marks in Nevada's Judicial College on the campus of UNR. Ill health forced his early retirement from the judicial bench during his second term. He has now gone to his beloved Lord Jesus.

He is survived by his mother, Camilla Wicks of Camano Island, Wash.; brother Paul Thomas also of Camano Island, brother Erik Thomas and wife Barbara of Boulder, Colo.; sister Lise-Marie Wertanzl and husband Dietmar of Seattle, Wash., sister Angela Jeffrey of Dallas, Texas, and his father Bob Thomas and wife, Ingrid, of Carson City.

Philip's funeral Mass will be celebrated 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 8 in St. Thomas Aquinas Cathedral on West 2nd Street in downtown Reno. All are welcome.