Received this sad news a few minutes ago from our friend Barbara Watkins:

We just heard this morning from Jan Merlin that Frankie Thomas, Jr., died
last evening at the Sherman Oaks Hospital of respiratory failure while recovering from a stroke.

Frankie Thomas was, of course, Tom Corbett, Space Cadet. More to follow, including some personal photographs.

Update 8:59 pm: Barbara sends more information regarding the arrangements; Frank requested that he be buried in his Space Cadet uniform, and will be placed in a plot next to his father and mother, Frank Thomas and Mona Bruns, at Forest Lawn. There will be a short service at the burial at Forest Lawn on Tuesday at 3:00 pm, and any inquiries about flowers or donations should be directed to Frankie’s stepdaughter, Julie Alexander. (Write me via the “Contact the Webmaster” button on the left for contact information.)