William "Bill" Frazier Thomas

William Frazier Thomas, known to family and friends as Bill, was born on November 26, 1944 in East Chicago, Indiana, to parents William and Ollie Thomas. He departed this life on October 1, 2018 in Hollywood, California.

William’s parents moved the family to Los Angeles in 1955. He was a graduate of Fremont High School and Southwest College, where he earned an Associate of Arts degree in Police Science.

His first job out of college was with the Los Angeles office of the Veterans Administration, where he rendered service and compassion to those needing rehabilitation and human support. William worked for the Los Angeles Police Department for a short time before accepting a position with the Los Angeles Unified School District Police Department, where he worked 33 years as an officer.

Following his retirement in 2002, William immersed himself in volunteer activities involving youth interested in law enforcement training with the Police Activities League. He also volunteered with Operation School Bell, going from school to school assisting neighborhood children with receiving donated school clothes on a monthly basis, as well as at Christmas.

William was an avid runner and bicyclist throughout his life. He participated in numerous marathons, either as a runner or bike rider, in the United States and abroad.

When William could no longer race in the annual Baker to Vegas Challenge Cup Run, he turned his focus to volunteering each year at the event assisting the Los Angeles School Police Department Running Team by either clocking monthly time trials, transporting equipment, or following behind recovery vehicles.

William’s other hobbies included hunting, photography, music, travel, attending concerts, the theater, and reading with historical novels and material covering law enforcement being of particular interest to him. He was also a long-time Dodgers fan who enjoyed taking the family to Dodger Stadium throughout the season. William was a man who was devoted to the well-being of his family, a loyal friend and kind neighbor.

He will be remembered with love by his wife of 43 years, Patricia Thomas; his daughters, Roxanne Thomas and Katoiya Marshall; son-in-law, Kevin Marshall; grandchildren, Kenneth Elliott and Ashlee Smith; brother, Oliver Thomas; sisters, Marcella Collins and Brenda Franklin; nephews, Dr. Gregory O. Thomas, Kevin Thomas, Brian Franklin, and Andre Lewis; nieces, Brenda Collins and Cristal Lewis; uncles, Gregory Bolden and Kenneth Bolden; sisters-in-law, Sandra Estes and Phyllis Lewis; seven great-grand children, Kenneth Jr., Shaunese, Adarrius, Amiyah, Zyaire, Derrick, and Antonio; and a host of other relatives and close friends.