(9-19-23) On Monday Gerald E. Thomas Jr. (61) Portland passed away at the scene of a single-vehicle crash near the intersection of county roads 400 East and 500 South.

Thomas was driving a 2001 Dodge Ram south on county road 400 East when he left the east side of the road and went through a corn field owned by Glenn Miller of Portland before hitting a tree.

An autopsy was scheduled for today to learn if Thomas had a medical incident during the crash that might be a part the of his death.

The Jay County Sheriff’s office is in charge of the investigation.

Gerald Thomas Jr.

Obituary

Gerald “Jerry” Thomas, Jr., age 61, a resident of rural Portland, passed away on Monday, September 18, 2023. 

Jerry was born on April 1, 1962, in Portland, Indiana, the son of Gerald Thomas, Sr. and Joyce (Fields) Thomas.  He graduated from Jay County High School in 1980 and retired from Jay County Highway Department in 2019 after 30 years of service.  Jerry married Penny Smith on October 6, 1984. 

Survivors include:

His wife of 38 years:  Penny Thomas – rural Portland, Indiana

His mother:  Joyce Thomas – Portland, Indiana

Children:  Jessica Reitenour (Adam) – Portland, Indiana

                 Jeanette Garlinger (Kyle) – Portland, Indiana

Siblings:  Cheryl Thomas (Alice Nolley) – Decatur, Indiana

                 Brian Thomas (Tina Rodgers) – Gaston, Indiana

Brother-in-law:  Ron Smith (Linda) – Bluffton, Indiana

Sisters-in-law:  Laura Coleman (Randy) – Pennville, Indiana

                          Brenda McVicker (Jeff) – Marion, Indiana

4 grandchildren:  Maddi Reitenour, Alylah Garlinger, Hudson Bullock Thomas and Grayson Holdstock. 

Several nieces and nephews

Visitation will be held on Thursday from 4-8 p.m. at Williamson-Spencer and Penrod Funeral Home in Portland.  Funeral services will be held on Friday at 11 a.m. at Williamson-Spencer and Penrod Funeral Home in Portland.  Burial will follow at Brookside Cemetery in Montpelier. 

Memorials may be directed towards Jay County Law Enforcement Youth Camp.

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