Paul F. Thomas a former resident of Norfolk and Needham died at the E.N. Rogers Memorial veterans Hospital in Bedford on Saturday, December 22nd. He was 81 years old. Born in Brookline, he was the son of the late Ebion F. and Frances (Donahue) Thomas. Paul was a graduate of Needham High School. He was a US. Marine Corp, 1st Division, veteran of World War II. He was a recipient of a Purple Heart for wounds received on May 10, 1945. He was honorably discharged from the Marine Corp in 1946. Mr. Thomas was the former owner of Thomas Seafood in Brookline. He retired in 1973 after the building that housed his business burned down. He later went on to work for Waste Management. Paul was active in the 1st Marine Division as well as the B-17 Reunions. He was a member of the Needham Village Club for many years. The beloved husband of the late Laurie Jean (Donald), he was the loving father of Laurie Koch and her husband Helmut of Concord NH, Laraine MacDonald and her husband Kevin of Franklin, Lynne Buckley and her husband John C. of San Diego CA, Lisa Coveney and her husband John of Walpole and Stephen Thomas and his wife Carol of Wrentham. Dear grandfather of Kelly K. Welch, Kerry Koch, Scott MacDonald, James MacDonald, Erin Buckley, Ryan Buckley, Sean Coveney, Brian Coveney, Dominick Thomas and Christian Thomas. Great grandfather of Thomas MacDonald. A Funeral Service will be held in the Eaton Funeral Home 1351 Highland Needham on Friday Dec. 28th at 11:00 AM. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend. Visiting hours on Thursday from 4-8 PM. Interment with Military Honors will take place in the veteran’s lot at Needham Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations in Paul’s name may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Mass Chapter, 311 Arsenal Street, Watertown MA 02472