• A. J. Thornley Thomas: Funeral Service.
• A. J. Thornley Thomas: Condolences from India.

      Alfred John Thornley Thomas was the youngest of 5 and the only boy in the family. His father, Alf Thomas, was a printer who published a rural newspaper in the town of Beverley in Western Australia. His uncle was the well-known missioner, James E. Thomas; his cousin Don was a P.O.W. and worked with the famous Dr. "Weary" Dunlop during WW2, and later was a minister with our churches in Victoria; another cousin was Colin, a missionary in India and also a minister in Australia in his later years.

      In due course the family moved from Beverley to West Leederville, a suburb of Perth, and they worshipped in the city church, then in Lake St.

      Thornley's Secondary education was at the Perth Modern School, where the academic elite went to prepare for professional life. (At the end of Primary School in W.A. in those days, those who wanted to continue schooling beyond 14 years, of age, could sit for a scholarship exam. Perth Modern School took only scholarship winners, and those who gained enough marks to qualify for an "entrance". So Thornley belonged to the academic "cream"). Thornley's final school report stated "above average ability" . . . "a keen, fairminded player, sportsmanlike in the best sense of the word" . . . "he is an honourable, diligent lad of good manly qualities".

      After one year of Science at the University of W.A., he came to Adelaide to do Medicine, because in those days there was no medical school in Perth In Adelaide he made his church home at Unley, where he enjoyed the youth activities, played his flute in the church orchestra, and leading the youth group Bible studies.

      When he graduated as a medical GP, he joined a practice in Unley Road. After six years he decided to return to his home State and begin his own practice. He built a house with a surgery attached, then re-visited Adelaide to marry Edda Chivell. They were both busy in the Wembley church, particularly with the youth and camps. Thornley became a deacon and also served on committees of State Conference.

      After another six years in suburban practice, Thornley and Edda were challenged by the need in India. They went to Daund hospital, taking Virginia (now wife of Dr. Stephen Curkpatrick, Dean of Studies at Churches of Christ Theological College in Melbourne), their first child, then 3 years old. Eventually Thornley was superintendent of the hospital. Joanne (Mrs David Johnson) was born during their term of service, then at the end of another six years it was time to come home on furlough, during which Mark was born, and he was only six weeks old when they returned to India for their second term.

      Thornley had the capacity to work long hours and, at a time when he was the only doctor at the hospital, he would work from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. with a few hours off in the heat of the day, but often he was performing emergency surgery or delivering babies during the night, on call seven days and nights a week, in rather trying conditions. He also began village trips, taking other staff and a mobile dispensary to outlying places where there were no medical services and very poor roads.

      As if he did not have enough to do, he also served on Conference committees and was the Conference President for a year. He was highly regarded in the Indian church and community, and still is to this day. A memorial service was held in Daund yesterday (6-4-00). Dr. Philemon Pawar has phoned through the condolences of the hospital staff and the church in Daund. Faxes and E-mail letters have been coming through the Overseas Missions office for Edda. They include one from R. V. Gaikwad, the Conference Secretary, another from Samuel Mantode, another from Benjamin Tiwari, the pastor of the Daund congregation, who spoke of Thornley as "a friend and spiritual father of the church in Daund" There have been others, and all were effusive in their praise of Thornley as a "strong, faithful, humble, very hard working, absolutely devoted and kind person". All say that they will miss his visits and encouragement, and they all remember not only his medical work, but his ministry in the community and youth work.

      When, for the sake of the children and their schooling, it seemed to be the time to return to Australia, Edda brought the children home to Adelaide, while Thornley stayed on for a further six months on his own, trying to ensure the smooth transition to national staff in the hospital.

      Although he finally returned to Australia, Thornley still kept those faithful Christian workers of India in his heart, going back many times to encourage them.

      Back in Adelaide, Thornley was invited to join the Flinders Clinic on Diagonal Road. He became a partner and had a happy association with that practice for the rest of his working life--27 years.

      He served the State Conference of Churches of Christ on several committees, and was President for the year 1973-4. He was a member of the Overseas Missions Board for many years and was its chairman for a period. Twice he visited PNG, once while Stephen and Virginia were working there. He also visited Vanuatu on Overseas Mission work.

      Here at the Blackwood Church, where they brought their membership soon after returning from India, Thornley was an elder for many years.

      Serious health problems began 17 years ago, but worsened during the last three years. However, ill-health could not reduce his enjoyment and pride in his three children, their spouses, and his 5½ grandchildren. Every Thursday he and Edda cared for the two youngest, and last week they drove to Melbourne and back, taking some English friends whom they knew in India to Melbourne--but it was really an excuse to visit the Victorian branch of their family. How fortunate that Virginia could have that time with her father, so close to the end.

      This week, when the family was asked what their father's favourite scripture was, they said, "All of it!" But they knew that he loved the passage that Geoff Payne read to us, especially the verse printed on the service sheet. (II Timothy 1:6-10 . . . especially verse 7)

      Thornley often ended his prayers with the words, "through the strong name of Jesus", for he was sure of Him from whom real strength comes. From his early teens he was a totally committed Christian. Those who knew him remember him as a pragmatic, down-to-earth man, with no false airs or graces, a man of integrity, scrupulously honest, steadfast in his convictions, yet gentle, uncomplaining, and with a real sense of humour.

      Writing positive things about Dad is not very hard. I think the difficulty is going to be in the delivery . . . so please bear with me.

      Well I'm glad we're here at Blackwood Church of Christ. We were going to hold the funeral down at Centennial Park but we decided to come to Blackwood, as this place and its people meant so much to Dad. I look out at so many people and I too must express gratitude on behalf of the family. Thank you for coming. I can almost see Thornley after the service keenly looking around to see who he should catch up with.

      I didn't even know how to spell eulogy before this week began! I asked myself what the word actually means. My dictionary defines the word as "homage, praise, glorification". It's a pity we too often wait until funerals for this sort of talk. Uncle Neville has told us in such elegant language of Thornley's past. Quite a few facts I didn't even know about. So far the picture painted has been of a loving Christian man who has given so much to so many. Most of us here today knew Thornley. We have a picture in out minds. A nice old man. A caring Doctor. A wise member of a committee. A very loud sneezer. A joker. A pet lover. A pillar of Churches of Christ.

      I am going to try to point out some finer details of this painting. Perhaps highlight some brushstrokes that you may not have noticed, or understood.

      Sitting around on Tuesday and Thursday, we his family began to reminisce about certain times. A lot of these family stories MUST remain family stories . . . believe me! I would hate for your interpretation of this painting to become surreal. We did however unanimously agree that Dad's three great loves were his Faith, his India and his Family.

His Faith.

      It's already been made very clear that Dad was unwavering in his commitment to God. It was lived out in every aspect of his life. It was evident every day. Dad's was indeed an intellectual Faith, in that he thought long and hard about what it means to be Christian. He was willing to listen to other's opinions and his faith was always growing. Dad's faith was indeed a journey. The other aspect of his faith was that it was quite practical, and I'm sure that certain things appeared almost straight forward and logical. Some examples . . .

• Ashwood Memorial Hospital, Daund, India needs a doctor . . . we'll go.
• A difficult birth at 4 a.m. in the hospital . . . no complaints, quietly get up, do what has to be done.
• Issues not being faced at the board meeting, something needs saying . . . .Say it.

      And a more recent example . . .

• When Jolie, Jaya and I were staying with Mum and Dad at the beginning of last year, I clearly remember Dad visiting fellow Church members about whom he was concerned. Night after night he'd put on his coat and head out after tea. He went to encourage, support and pray.

      Because of these qualities I'm sure he was sometimes perceived to be stubborn and I'm sure some actions may have been misunderstood. But Thornley was an extremely selfless man. His only motivation? Jesus Christ his Lord.

His India

      I thought about getting the slides out, but I'll save you from that fate. The flowers on the coffin are simply stunning (thanks Jane), and these bright colours are there to symbolise the bright colours of India. Dad loved the place. A very important part of this love involves the food, and Indian food is something we often share together on family occasions. It really didn't take much to excite Doc in the area of food, but anything Indian was more than OK by him! . . . especially if it was hot enough to make him sweat--profusely. I think we all need a sense of purpose in life, a sense that what we're doing is useful. That's what India was for Dad. He rarely sat behind a desk handing out aspirin. In India Dad performed brain surgery; dealt with dangerous diseases like Cholera, Typhoid and TB; he amputated limbs; delivered 100's of little "bubs" (as he called them); and performed countless hours of surgery. His work over there also continued here through the Overseas Mission Board, and I'm sure he would have been at the OMB meeting today if at all possible.

His Family

      (This may get a little tough) In 1994 when Doc had his second major heart surgery, he wrote a letter to all us kids expressing his love and delight in his family. Mum actually found a copy of this letter in the filing cabinet on Tuesday, which reminded us again of his thoughtfulness and love. Dad loved kids . . . all kids. He's well known for his missing finger trick that delighted, and possibly terrified, small children in India and Australia. He related very easily to kids everywhere and became a grandfather figure to many little ones he met.

      It's been a strange week. A week full of stories about India; a week full of God's love; and a week that has been strongly focussed on family . . . Dad would've loved it.

      Our God, in these moments of quietness we pause to give thanks for Thornley Thomas. We give thanks for the gift of his life to us--and the very tangible ways in which we remember his presence among us.

      We thank you for the gift of his hands: gentle, sure, dexterous, physician's hands--skilled in their healing touch of human bodies--whether smooth or wrinkled, white or brown, family or stranger. We remember hands that could also 'detach fingers' creating magic in the eyes of children, establishing an instant rapport.

      We thank you for Thornley's eye for detail--detail as intricate as the human body; for his gifts of observation and prognosis on which the livelihood and hope of a family might depend or even life and death could hinge. We remember the keen eye that saw and discerned more in life than he ever seemed to let on from behind the bifocals.

      We thank you for Thornley's hearing--hearing that brought healing through listening; hearing that heard truly the confessions of human difficulty, pain, or failure--without censure or blame, but always accompanied with patient, sensitive guidance.

      Yet we also remember the ears that were 'hard of hearing'--seemingly deaf to words of malice, envy or gossip; deaf to words that could wound relationships and fracture communities. We remember the humility and patience with which he showed wise leadership in binding wounds and healing through listening.

      We thank you for the way he walked, conveying purpose and compassion--purpose that was measured by consistent steps and compassion which seemed measureless in his habit of quietly going a second and third mile--with others and for others, in a mentoring stroll or lifelong journey, along a suburban footpath or through a dusty Indian village.

      We thank you for his words of faith--always confident, but never over confident; always in confidence, for those needing a confidant; always honest, even if challenging or surgically necessary. We remember that his words of faith were always faithful to his sense of call; always faithful to the measure of faith that he received with gratitude and a desire for further understanding--in scripture, and the life of the church. We remember that his faith was always a journey of growing.

      For a good physician who knew the wonder and frailty of human bodies, and the resilience and fragility of the human spirit; who recognised that in you alone 'we live and move and have our being'; for a truly 'good' physician--we give you thanks.

      We thank you for the influence of Doc's life on so many people and the impressions he will continue to leave on our memories: for his faith expressed in gracious words, in the fidelity of his commitments, and in the self-giving companionship he shared with us all--whether family, friend, or colleague; in the home, church, surgery, or village.

      We thank you for his embodiment of gifts--such a diversity of gifts--of your grace: grace that he too, consciously touched in others, heard in their voices, observed in life, and experienced in church communities across many cultures.

      We pray that in our memory of Thornley's tangible presence among us as husband, father, grandfather, friend, spiritual mentor-- you might nourish our lives with renewed faith and confidence in your goodness-- the source and motivation of his life lived for others. We pray this in Jesus Christ, in whom you are named 'Good shepherd and great physician' for us all. Amen.

      We, Thornley's family, wish to thank you for paying tribute to our much loved husband and father. We appreciate your expressions of love and we sincerely thank you for joining with us to celebrate his life.

Ashwood Memorial Hosp., 12:57 AM 7/04/00, message to Mrs. Thomas
Return-Path:-<misnhosp@pn2.vsnI.-riet:m>
Date: Fri, 07 Apr 2000 00:57:58 +0530
From: Ashwood Memorial Hospital <misnhosp@pn2.vsnl.net.in>
To: "omb@netadvantage.com.aui <omb@netadvantage.com.au>
Subject: message to Mrs. Thomas
To Mrs. Thomas and family members Adelaide, Australia.

Dear Mrs. Thomas,

We were sorry to hear the news of Dr. Thomas's death. We praise God for the wonderful life and a good testimony that Dr. Thomas had. We pray that God will raise many people like Dr. Thomas will be a great witness for him. We continue to pray for you and your family. May God give you all peace that passeth all understanding and fill your hearts with his peace and grace.

Sincerely, Yours in Him;
Isaac Kamble and children.

Ashwood Memorial Ho, 12:34 AM 7/04/00, Message for Mrs Thomas
Subject: Message for Mrs Thomas
To Mrs Thomas and family members Adelaide, South Australia.

Dear Mrs Thomas

I was very much shocked to hear the news of passing away of Dr. Thomas. I on behalf of my family members send our condolences to all of you. Dr. Thomas was a man of discipline but with very kind Heart. He lived a very true christian life. We will remember you in our prayers.

Yours in Him
D. M. Bhalerao. Shrigonda.

Ashwood Memorial Ho, 12:16 AM 7/04/00, message to mrs Thomas
Subject: message to Mrs Thomas

Dear Ida and beloved members of family,

Greetings to you all in the Name of our Saviour Lord Jesus Christ. It was really a heart-aching and shocking news of sudden demise our dear Dr. Thomas on 4/4/2000. We here in Daund, all the staff of Ashwood Hospital and members of Management are deeply grieved by the death of Dr Thomas. But we are very sure that He has gone to the Eternity to stay with our Lord Jesus Christ.

We give praise and thanks to our Almighty for the Dedicated and Loving, Christ-like life of Dr. Thomas. He has been always an inspiration and example for us in this Ministry.

Please be assure of our constant prayers for all of you. This morning on 6 April we had a very blessed Memorial Worship in hospital O.P.D.Hall and many past and present staff and families were present. May God give His Peace and Comfort to all of you through His words and love of dear brothers and sisters in Christ.

Yours in Christ
Dr. Philemon Pawar and all staff,
Dr. Kolhatkar chairman,
Pastor Thavre vice-chairman,
Mr Sam Mantode Treasurer of Management.

From: Samuel Mantode <sam_mantode@hotmail.com>
To: Bruce Coventry <bcoventry@picknowl.com.au>
Subject: Message for Edda.
Date: Wednesday, 5 April 2000 20:51

Dear Bruce,

I have just heard through Dr. Pawar regarding the sad demise of our dear friend Dr. Thomas. I was able to get your e-mail address just now and I am sending a message for Mrs Thomas. I will be obliged if you could convey our message to his dear wife. I have sent the same message through OMB, but feel that, it would reach late. If your email address is correct please get in touch with me through above email address for further correspondence.

Regards, Sam Mantode

Dear Edda,

Greeting to you in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I, Flora and my family are grieved to hear regarding passing away of our bear brother Dr. Thornley Thomas. God has taken such a great man to Him. Our Conference and people in India will miss his advice and presence very much. We will remember him as a strong, faithful, humble, very hard working, absolutely devoted and kind person. I personally will be missing his valuable guidance.

Dr. Thomas was chosen, and appointed for his office in India and in the world. And he has completed it wonderfully. His healing words and touch will remain with many in India: We will always remember and thank God for Dr. Thomas's great sacrificial and successful mission in India. It will never be forgotten. Edda at this hour of physical separation we understand it is difficult for you; your life of sharing, caring and sparing Dr. Thomas is a great example for us. Our sincere prayers to Almighty God to give you all the physical, emotional, and spiritual strength to face this moment and the days to come. You know our love affection and prayers will always be for you and your family.

Yours in His Service,
Flora, Sam & family.

To: Jeff Weston, Australia

Dear Jeff

Christian greetings to you.

Special e-mail to express our deep sorrow over the sad demise of the Dr. A. J. T. Thomas. A friend and spiritual father of Church of Christ, Daund. He was the chairperson of the Church during 1966-68. He was a man of discipline and devotion for the cause of Christ and his kingdom. He was a man of concern to see the spiritual development of each and every member of the church. He loved every family in the hospital compound and outside in railways. He encouraged young people to grow in Christian maturity. Youth group used to meet in his bungalow for singing, praying studying God's word and enjoying the cake and playing Ping-Pong. He loved the work of Kashti fellowship and also the work of Christian library in the town, a place of witness for Christ. During his time youth group at Daund Church was actively involved in Christian ministry. Mrs. E. Thomas was actively involved in women's group, visitation and standing by his side for the cause of mission and evangelism. His study of God's word through Barclay commentary was outstanding. He always thought of Daund as his second home and accordingly he visited her many times after retiring from missionary work in India.

We as a Church send our condolence to Mrs. Thomas, Virginia, Stephen, Jonan, David, Jolly and his grand children that we are praying for you.

Please read the following passage: 2 Timothy 4:7-8

May God bless each one of you.

Love from Pastor Benjamin Tiwari
Church of Christ, Daund, Maharashtra, India

TO MRS THOMAS C/O MR JEFF WESTON EXE. DIRECTOR O.M.B AUSTRALIA
CONDOLENCE MESSAGE

It is sad to know that Dr A. J. T. THOMAS is no more alive, but we do accept the will of God in his life. We, as conference, have lost a best friend in Christ. We know though he left India many years back his heart was in India and body was in Australia . His visits to India used to give lots of encouragement to us. In one of his visits, along with his wife, he encouraged me personally saying that new leadership is coming in form of Robert and I was very much encouraged. His last visit in Nov. 1998 our vehicle had got held up in the mud, he with his enthusiasm in old age said don't worry, all of a you get down and push, I take the charge of steering wheel. We have many memories of his life

We can't forget his great contribution for the conference. We do pray for MRS THOMAS that God would console her and all relatives because one day we are going to meet at God's feet. We all are in prayer as C.O.M. & conference churches & departments.

Yours Faithfully
Pastor. R. V. GAIKWAD, CONFERENCE SECRETARY.