Richard Thomason

Mr. James Richard Thomason, 1SG retired, US Army, age 94 of Concord, went to be with the Lord, Tuesday, July 19, 2022.

The family will receive friends on Tuesday, August 2, at Wilkinson Funeral Home from 10 to 11 am. A funeral service will be held in the funeral home chapel at 11 am with Rev. Scott Orr officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow at 1 pm at the Salisbury National Cemetery.

Richard was born February 19, 1928 in Lexington, NC to James Spaugh Thomason and Cornelia Elizabeth Kirk Thomason. He was also preceded in death by his wife of 60 years and 6 months, Betty Jean Leonard Thomason.

Richard graduated from Lexington High School in 1947 and attended NC State and Catawba College. He entered Lexington Hospital in June 1949, due to a back injury, where he met the love of his life, Miss Betty Jean Leonard. They were married October 1, 1950 and resided in Salisbury. He went to work for the NC Army National Guard in August 1951 and remained with them until his retirement in 1988. He served two years active duty from December 1952 until December 1954, where he was Chief Enlisted Assignment Clerk for the Third US Army Area. He also worked for Cannon Mills, as supply room supervisor at the Swink Plant in China Grove for 10 years. He served the NC National Guard in Salisbury, Albemarle, and Concord for a total of 37 years.

Richard is survived by his daughters, Paige Thomason Gulley and husband, Jim, and Jamie Lynn Thomason; grandchildren, Jessica Gulley Heckle and husband, Jason, and Asher Schewee; great-grandson, Bryce Heckle.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a charity of your choice.