Frank Thomas

Frank Porter Thomas, 89, passed away on June 16, 2008 in Taos, NM. Frank was born in Peru, Indiana, on June 15, 1919. A Purdue graduate (1941), he was raised a Mason in May, 1941, Pentalpha Lodge 564, Indianapolis. On December 27, 1941, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps, eventually rising to the rank of Major. He married Jill Hollingbery of San Francisco, CA on November 12, 1942. Along with Don Thomas and Bob Wildman, Frank co-founded the Burger Chef restaurant chain, which eventually expanded to a thousand restaurants before being sold to General Foods in 1968. In 1994, Frank and Jill moved to Taos, NM, and he became active in the Masonic Bent Lodge. For the last three years Frank has been President of the Kit Carson Museum. Frank was predeceased by his brother Don Thomas and his brother-in-law Robert Wildman. He is survived by his wife Jill, his sister Jean Wildman, his children Lani, John, and Charles, his son-in-law Chris, his grandchildren Nathan and his wife Carrie, Andy and his wife Elizabeth, Jonah, and Morgan and his wife Melissa, and his great-granddaughter, Shaya.

A memorial service will be held on July 5, at 1 PM at the Bent Masonic Lodge on Santiago St. Instead of flowers, the family suggests that a donation be made in the name of Frank Thomas to the Kit Carson Home and Museum, 113 Kit Carson Rd., Taos, NM 87571.