Who is Len Thomas from Stern Men and what is their importance?

The reckless, perennially broke uncle of protagonist Ruth Thomas, Len will take any job for money, including digging a grave for Ira Pommeroy when he drowns and storing his stinking corpse in the root cellar for the week it takes a minister to arrive for the funeral. Len is married to Gloria Pommeroy. They have no children. Ruth detests alcoholic Uncle Len and suggests that Gloria murder him in his sleep. Len eventually throws Gloria out and takes up with desperate Florida Cobb.