Thomas, George Elvin 'Buddy'

1941 - 1969  (27 years)

• Name	Thomas, George Elvin 'Buddy'
  Birth	8 Dec 1941	Murphysboro, Jackson County, Illinois   [1]
  Gender	Male
  Reference Number	THOM.G009
  _FGRAVE	87522374
  Military Service	Airman Third Class, 821 Transportation Squadron, United States Air Force  [1]
  		United States of America Flag, 50 Stars (1960 - Present) This is the current flag of the United States. This flag became the official United States flag in 1960 when a star was added for the State of Hawaii. It replaced the short-lived 49-star flag (July 4, 1959 - July 3, 1960) honoring the State of Alaska. An Executive Order by President Eisenhower provided for the arrangement of the stars in nine…
  		United States Air Force
  		United States Air Force
  		Airman (abbreviated as AMN) (paygrade E-2), United Air Force This rank was previously known as Airman Third Class
  		United States Air Force Enlisted Rank Insignia
  Death	1 Sep 1969	Cahokia, St. Clair County, Illinois   [1]
  	Cause: Missing Presumed Drowned
  Burial	Hiller-Crab Orchard Cemetery, Carbondale, Jackson County, Illinois   [1]
  		Headstone, Thomas, George E.
  Person ID	I38276	Carl Wayne Gray Research
  Last Modified	28 Nov 2022

  
  

  Father	Thomas, Elvin Edward,   b. 7 Apr 1919, Carterville, Williamson County, Illinois d. 15 Dec 1989, Southeast Missouri Hospital, Cape Girardeau, Cape Girardeau County, Missouri (Age 70 years)
  Mother	Maglone, Lena Cora,   b. 22 Dec 1916   d. 23 Jan 1986 (Age 69 years)
  Family ID	F14386	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map

  Death - Cause: Missing Presumed Drowned - 1 Sep 1969 - Cahokia, St. Clair County, Illinois  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Notes

  Search abandoned A search party has abandoned efforts to recover the body of George "Buddy" Thomas, 28, of Murphysboro, who apparently drowned Monday in the Mississippi River near Cahokia. Officials said he is presumed dead. Thomas, who worked on the tugboat Lady Gloria, was swept downstream by a strong river current while swimming. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Elvin Thomas of Murphysboro. — Southern Illinoisan (Carbondale, Illinois), Thursday, 04 Sept 1969, p. 3 Drowning victim's rites set A Murphysboro man missing since Monday, when he dived from a boat into the Mississippi River near Cahokia, has been found near St. Louis, Mo. George Elvin "Buddy" Thomas Sr., 27, of Rt. 2, Murphysboro, was a deck hand for Inland Oil Transport of St. Louis. His body was recovered Friday. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. today at the Meyer-Denny Funeral Home in Murphysboro. Sister Irene Chaney will officiate. Burial will be in Hiller Cemetery south of Murphysboro. Mr. Thomas was born Dec. 8, 1941, in Murphysboro, a son of Elvin Edward and Lena Cora Maglone Thomas. Mr. Thomas had served in the United States Air Force. He leaves his parents of Murphysboro; a son and daughter, of Milwaukee, Wis.; and six sisters. — Southern Illinoisan (Carbondale, Illinois); Sunday, 07 Sep 1969; p 2 [obit modified slightly to protect the privacy of living individuals. kmh.]

  
  

• Sources

  [S12427] http://www.findagrave.com, Headstone, Thomas, George E., (https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=87522374), none. (Reliability: 2).