Otto Walter Thoma (0G)

a grandson of one of the the half-brothers of our grandfather (paternal side)
(click for a chart showing his relationship to us)

The (-1G), etc., after the names indicates the number of generations before Erven Thoma

Before Otto W. there might have been a stillborn sibling, born and died ca 12 Oct. 1914 in St. Louis. There might have also been a stillborn sibling that was interred on 06 Sept. 1922 in block 7, lot 141 in New Marcis Cemetery in St. Louis County.

The house at 2817 Wyoming where Otto Thoma and family lived from ca 1891 to after 1920. The house still stands (in Aug. 2001) but is in very poor condition.
Click on this thumbnail to enlarge the picture of Otto Jr., Otto Walter's father.

Brother Roy T. Thoma (0G) was born on 08 Mar. 1918, probably in St. Louis, MO.

The 1920 Census for Missouri (supv. dist. 183, enum. dist. 159, sheet 7B, dwelling 105, family 205, lines 85-91, dated 10 and 12 Jan) shows the family living at 2303a S. 13th St. in ward 9 of St. Louis. The father, Otto, is 28 years old, born in Missouri. He is a merchant of wholesale meats. The mother, Edna, is 27 years old. Son Otto is 3 years and 7 months, born in Missouri. Roy is only 1 year 10 months, born in Missouri. Also living there is Edna's father, George Huth, 67; his wife Katharine Huth, 61; and his son, Frederick Huth, 35 years old. Frederick is a polisher of toy jewelry.

The St. Louis City Directory of 1922 lists Otto H. Thoma, salesman, living at 3109 Wyoming.

The 1924 Dir. has Otto H. Thoma Jr., salesman at Columbia Products Co., residing at 4653a Morgan Ford Rd. In the 1925 Dir. the information is the same.

His brother, Gene A. Thoma (0G), was born on 23 Apr. 1924 in St. Louis(?).

The father's businesses are mentioned on p. 266 in "Who's Who in North St. Louis", published by the North St. Louis Business Men's Assoc. in 1925. At that time he owned and operated the Columbia Products Company at 2545 West Dodier Street in St. Louis, MO. That company were canners of Columbia and Bavarian malt extracts and dealers in domestic and imported hops, crown, porcelain stoppers and cappers. The article says that Walter and Otto (Jr) assisted in this business too.

The St. Louis City Directory of 1926 lists Otto H. [the father of our Otto Walter] as a salesman, living at 4653a Morgan Ford Rd. The 1927 Directory has the same information as in 1925. The Directory of 1929 shows Otto H. Thoma Jr. as assist. manager at Columbia Products Co. and is living at 4129 Fillmore.

In the Standard Masonic Directory of St. Louis and St. Louis County (1929) Otto and his father are listed. Otto Jr. is living at 4129 Fillmore and was a member of Lodge No. 2 of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and a member of Alhambra Grotto (MOVPER). Erven E. Thake (my grandfather) was also a member of the same Grotto at this time.

The 1930 Fed. Census for Missouri (T626_1234, enum. dist. 471, supv. dist. 9, sheet 8B, lines 93-97, dated 8 Apr. 1930) show Otto H. Thoma (Jr) and his family living at 3675 Wilmington in St. Louis (ward 13, block 5865). They are renting at $40/month from Otto's parents who live upstairs; they have a radio set. Otto is 39 years old, is married since age 22, is not attending school, and was not a vetran of a war. He was born in Missouri, his father in Germany and his mother in Missouri. He reads, writes, and speaks English. He is a manager at a malt manufacturing plant. His wife Edna, is 37 years old, is married since age 20, and is not attending school. She was born in Missouri, her father in Hanover Germany and her mother in Missouri. She reads, writes and speaks English, and has no listed occupation. Their son, Otto, is 13 and was born in Missouri. He is attending school and reads, writes, and speaks English. Their son Roy A. is 12 and was born in Missouri. He is attending school and reads, writes and speaks English. Their youngest son, Gene, is 5 and was born in Missouri. He is not yet attending school but he speaks English.

The 1930 St. Louis City Directory lists Otto H. Thoma [the father]as employed at Columbia Products Co. He and his family are living at 3675 Wilmington Ave., a house that was built for his parents by Theodore (Ted) Winge (-2G), a brother-in-law of his father's half-brother Emil Thoma (-2G). This listing also gives his wife's name--Edna. The 1930 Directory also lists an Otto A. Thoma (with wife Anna) as a radio mechanic, living at 3960 McRee Ave. I think that person is not related. The 1931 Directory lists Otto H. Thoma [the father] and his wife Edna living at 3675a Wilmington. He is working at Columbia Products Co. The 1932 Directory lists Otto and Edna living at 6511 Leona Ave. He is a malster at Columbia Products Co. The 1936 City Dir. has Otto H. (Edna) Thoma, salesman, with a home at 6511 Leona.

The 1936 St. Louis City Dir. has Otto W. Thoma with a separate listing as a salesman living at 6511 Leona (the same address as his parents). The 1939 St. Louis Dir. has Otto Thoma III (with wife Della), Lndry [laundry] Worker, living at 3675a Wilmington Ave.

Otto's (Jr) S. S. number is 487-26-1414 and is dated May 14, 1941. At that time he [the father] said he was 50 years old, born 16 Dec. 1890. He was living at Route #1 Eureka, MO. He did own his own business, but is now working for the Ritz Beverage Co., located at 1822-24 S. 12th St. (or 17th?) in St. Louis, MO. His parents' names and his middle initail are given. This is the father of our Otto Walter.

The St. Louis Directory of 1941 shows Otto W. Thoma [0G], with wife Della [?] living at 3675a Wilmington Av. He is a driver. This could be the one son of the Otto of this page. The 1942 St. Louis City Dir. (Gould's) has Otto (with wife Dell) Thoma, U.S. Army, residing at 3675a Wilmington Ave.

Otto W. Thoma [0G] enlisted at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis on 27 Feb. 1942. He was born in 1916 in Missouri and had four years of high school. His civilian occupation was bandsman (oboe) or parts clerk (automobile). He was living in St. Louis City. His entry grade was private in the Army. He rose to the rank of captain.

Otto W. made application for a S.S. card before 1951 while still living in St. Louis.

The St. Louis Directory of 1955 shows Otto W. Thoma [0G] (with wife Edna), salesman at Consumers Glue, and a home at 5543a Grace Ave. The 1955 St. Louis County Dir. has Otto W. Thoma (with a different wife), manager of Wilmes Linen Supply Co., with a home at 506 S. Old Orchard Avee. in Webster Groves. His brother Gene was also working for Wilmes in 1956-60, at least. The 1956 Dir. has the same information.

In 1956 he and his family moved to Shreveport, Louisiana.

In May of 1960 (at the time of the death of Otto Walter's grandmother) his parents were living at 4948 and a half Fyler Ave.

In 1963 Otto Thoma (father or son?) was president of SWILSA (South West Industrial Laundry Supply Assoc.) which had meetings in Texas that year. Brother Gene Thoma was president in 1970.

The St. Louis County Directory of 1965 lists his parents Otto H. Thoma, with wife Edna, a salesman at Consumer Glue in St. Louis, living at 9405 Pancho Dr. in Affton, MO.

His parents and brothers moved to Shreveport, LA some time between 1965 and Apr. 1966. Sometime after 1965 there was a fire in the Shreveport home of Otto Jr. which unfortunately destroyed family records and photos.

His mother died after 1965, I do not know exactly when but I assume that it happened in Shreveport.

His brother Roy died on 2 Oct. 1991, perhaps in Shreveport, LA.

Otto appears in the U.S. Phone and Address Directory database on Ancestry.Com. He was living at 2036 Pepper Ridge Dr. in Shreveport,Caddo Parish, 71105-9525 LA. He appears in the issues for years 1993 through 2002.

The U. S. Public Records Index Record database on Ancestry.Com has Otto W. Thoma, born 30 May 1916, living on 2036 Pepper Ridge Dr. in Shreveport, 71115. In the summer of 2005 he is 89.

Brother Gene died on 25 Jan. 2005 while he was living in Zip Code 71105 which is in Shreveport, LA.

Otto Walter died on Friday 22 Jul. 2005 in Shreveport, LA. An obituary appeared in the Shreveport Times on 23 Jul. He was 89 years old. Arrangements were by Rose-Neath Funeral Home, Marshall St. in Shreveport. Here is the obituary from the Shreveport Times of 24 July:

SHREVEPORT, LA - Otto W. Thoma, 89, passed away peacefully on Friday July 22, 2005 after a lengthy illness. A private family service will be held.

Mr. Thoma was born May 30, 1916 in St. Louis, MO to Otto H. and Edna Huth Thoma. He moved to Shreveport in 1956 and was former owner of American Linen, President of the Southwestern Linen Supply Association, was former Director of the Northwest Chapter of the Louisiana Restaurant Association. He was a former Chairman of the Miss Shreveport Beauty Pageant and was also a member of the Downtown Optimist Club, Shreveport Chamber of Commerce, El Karubah Shrine, Meridian Masonic Lodge, 40 & 8 Society and was former Vice Chairman of the Caddo Democratic Association and also served on the advisory committee state of La. Dept. of Education. Mr. Thoma also served as Commander of the Lowe-McFarland American Legion Post 14.

During World War II Mr. Thoma served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, rising from the rank of Private to Captain. He was in the first assault wave to land on Omaha Beach in France on D-Day June 6, 1944. He also fought in the Battle of the Bulge and participated in the liberation of the concentration camp at Dachau. He served with the 1st Division and was also attached to the 101st Airborne, General George S. Patton, Jr.'s 4th Armored Division, the British 47th Royal Marine and the French 2nd Armored. Mr. Thoma was awarded the Bronze Star, Purple Heart and the French Croix Deguerre.

Mr. Thoma is survived by his war bride ... from Birmingham, England and his two sons ... and ...; granddaughters, ... and sister-in-law ... all of Shreveport, LA and numerous nieces and nephews.

His brothers Roy A. Thoma and Gene A Thoma preceded him in death.

Honorary pallbearers will be ... and the members of the American Legion Post 14.

The family would like to thank the staff at Christus Schumpert Highland Hospital, Grace Home and the many friends and family members for their love and care.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the charity of their choice.

The Social Security Death Index has Otto W. Thoma, born on 30 May 1916, who died on 22 Jul. 2005. His application was made out in Missouri before1951. His last residence was in Zip Code area 71115 which is Shreveport, Caddo Parish, LA.

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An Otto Thoma appears in video tapes stored in the Archives and Special Collections in the Noel Memorial Library at Louisiana State Univ. in Shreveport, specifically in the Davis Bland Photographic Collection (collection #571).

Otto's second wife, and two children outlived him.

There is an Otto Thoma in the S. S. Death Index (#143-09-9937) who was born on 28 Nov. 1917 and died in Nov. 1964, but his number was issued in New Jersey before 1951.

A Beatrice Della Thoma (S.S. #499-10-5620) is listed in the California Death Index, 1940-97 Record database on Ancestry.Com. She was born on 20 Nov. 1920 in Missouri and died on 27 Nov. 1995 in Riverside, CA. Her father's surname was Hickman and her mother's maiden name was Botts.

The S. S. Death Index has an entry for Beatrice Thoma, #499-10-5620, born 26 Jan. 1920 and died 27 Nov. 1995. The number was issued in Missouri before 1951. Her last residence was in Zip Code area 92509 which is in Riverside, Riverside County, CA.
 

Created 20 Jan., 2000. Updated 23 Jan. 2006.