Otto Minor Thomas

Otto Minor Thomas was born on February 7, 1935. In Glouster County VA. He was the fourth of seven children to Reverend Otto and Jeanette Thomas. Otto spent much of his childhood in Virginia where his Mother and Father both taught at the school he attended, and his father was the Pastor of two churches in the area. When Otto was 10 his father passed away from heart problems. Before his dad passed, he told Otto, “when I’m gone, you will have to be the man of the house”. A few years later the family home caught on fire and burned down. These events prompted his mother to move the family to Cincinnati, Ohio to be closer to his aunts and uncles on his mom’s side of the family. The kid from the country moves to the big city In 1948, Otto started 8th grade in Cincinnati Ohio. He went on to attend Withrow High school where he graduated in 1953 . After high school Otto started college at Central State University. During his first year of school he pledged Omega Psi Phi fraternity. After his first year at Central State, he transferred to The Ohio State University where he crossed over and became a member of Omega Psi Phi. Otto met his future wife Elouise Rogers while attending Ohio State. They courted for a few years and went their separate ways after graduation. Otto earned a degree in microbiology. From there he went into the army and was stationed at Fort Detrick Maryland. After leaving the army he came back to Ohio and reunited with Elouise Rogers. Otto and Elouise were married in 1960. After Otto and Elouise married, he went back to school to obtain his Pharmacy degree. He then began working at Tyler Drugstore on the corner of 20th and Mt. Vernon. The name of the drugstore changed from Tyler to Edwards Drugstore, but the pharmacist did not. Otto was the pharmacist at that location for 50 years. Otto and Elouise Thomas had four children Otto Stephen Thomas, Allen Randolph (Randy) Thomas, Gary and Terri Thomas (twins). Any time he was not working he could be found at home enjoying his family. He was an avid reader and enjoyed talking and sharing stories with friends and family. He and his wife were the Charter members of the Good Shepherd Baptist Church. He was the Superintendent of the Sunday School for several years and was also a deacon. As a child he and his siblings memorized poetry. It was not uncommon for him to start reciting a poem spontaneously or by request. Otto was known as a compassionate person who enjoyed the art of conversation. Otto’s nicknames included Farmer Red, and his sisters simply called him Brother. Otto was proceeded in death by Elouise Thomas (wife), Otto Stephen Thomas (son),Rose Watson ( sister). Otto is survived by Allen Randolph (Tonya) Thomas (son), Gary Oliver ( Kianga) Thomas (son), Terri Lynn Thomas ( daughter) , Lita Thomas ( daughter in law), Isaac Randolph Thomas( grandson) Miranda Jeannine Thomas ( granddaughter), Otto Stephen Michael Thomas( grandson), Lois Blackshear ( sister), Mildred Chaney ( sister), Carolyn Thomas ( sister), Jeanette Shegog ( sister), James (Manya) Arond-Thomas ( brother) , and a host of nieces and nephews.