George was a customer who was influential in the Eastern Test Range buying the Telemetry products my company manufactured. I never met a man who was so knowledgeable and yet humble. He and I had some good times together at ITC Shows in Vegas and San Diego. I miss you, George. 

I met George in 1969 when I came to work for PanAm on the ETR, and from the beginning he treated me as a peer not as a newbie.  I learned more from George than any professor or books about Telemetry and communications, even though I was a 
radar engineer.    I affectionally called him "Dad" throughout the years, and he always had time for my questions, or just to talk.  I and all others whose life he touched will miss him dearly.  George, thanks for the memories!

For over 40 yrs George inspired me, and everyone that knew him, to think outside the box.  His UTA idea didn’t work out, but, that never stopped him from looking forward.  He was a wealth of knowledge and was always able to bring ideas together to shape the future.  He always made me laugh when I’d attend a meeting and he’d greet me as Dr. Trump.  His sense of humor and caring nature will be sorely missed.  God bless you and rest in peace.

I had the opportunity to work with George in Florida and Colorado Springs over the last couple of years helping to ensure our nation's access to space. George always shared his best ideas and ensured that his work family was always taken care of.

George will be sorely missed.

This is truly a sad day, George and Vassie were very good friends who always welcome me when I had to visit Florida to work on Range Systems.  They would always greet with a big smile and hug when we first met back in the late 90's and early 2000. Such a wonderful, wonderful person that I will surely miss and will always remember his walking stick he shared with me.  Rest in peace George and Vassie, Love always

Over the years of being around George the thing that impressed me the most about him is the truly remarkable “gift of the spirit” he had of making anyone he encountered (and he went out of his way to “encounter” a lot of people) feel truly special.  Whether a new acquaintance (i.e. someone, a stranger, he saw at a restaurant), friend, co-worker, no matter, he always made you feel special and took a genuine interest in your life.  

Thanks for spending some of your time with us George we learned a lot; Miss you; We’ll see you again.


George was one of the most consistent and reliable leaders that kept the range functioning through the storms of change.......and.remained a true gentleman through every storm.
I consider him a constant and true friend......and will miss him greatly....

Who can possibly sum up George in a few short words.  I met him in 1972 and worked with him for almost 40 years.  I will always remember him as a great friend and mentor.  Although I worked for the government and George was a contractor, we became good friends both at work and outside work.  We went with him and his dear wife Vassie to many a gospel concert and George would often sing along in a pretty good baritone. He was the most knowledgeable person I ever knew on all things range related and I have many a fond memories of working with him to trouble a problem no one else  could solve and sure enough George would find the solution.  I will miss him and his never met a stranger attitude.  Rest in peace George and say hi to Vassie for me.

My prayers are with George and his family.  I learned so much from George -- he had a way of schooling you so you didn't even know it was happening. George had over 50 years working on launch range systems and equipment.  George once told me he was a radar tech tracking the Russian Sputnik 1 satellite into an elliptical low Earth orbit on 4 October 1957

Most importantly, I considered George a friend.  

This is truly a sad day for the range.  George may be gone from sight, but never from our hearts

King George, as we often affectionately called him, will always be remembered by me (and many others) as a great talent, friend, mentor, and all-around good example.  George has influenced my life and career for the last 31+ years and I am forever grateful to have known him.  He shared hands-on  knowledge with me on everything from working on our automobiles to every system on the range.  He possessed a tremendous can-do attitude, practical skills routed in his roots on the farm in the midwest, and encyclopedic knowledge of range systems.  I've watched him befriend and positively impact people in our TDY travels from calming a harried airline customer service representative to reassuring a General Officer.  I will treasure the nuggets of wisdom he shared with me over the years.  May the peace of our God comfort you, his family, in this time of great loss.  Please also understand the breadth of the impact his life had on so many and how thankful we are to have known him.  He is greatly loved, respected, and missed!

George had such an impact on so many people in our industry and community. He was a giant among us. He would come to my office and we would solve the world's problems. It is ironic that he passed away during this epidemic, as if he was saying to me: Partner, you deal with this one, I am out of here. He would be missed & always remembered.

George took the time to understand people and people appreciated him for that.  “Are you going to do something today, or what?”… was one of the various greetings George spoke as he made his way down the hallways and stopped to chat at each person’s desk..  “Is that right..?!..” would be the response to some new tidbit of information you gave to him.   No matter what the situation, he always had a response ready.  

I had traveled with George on a few trips, and he always towed a case of latest electronic gadgets with him.  He had his own sense of style with his suspenders and hats – particularly the blue fishing hat decorated with many pins.   People would be on the lookout for that blue hat!  On one of the business trips, his beloved wife came along.  I am sure he is with her now in heaven, wearing that blue hat, creating new enterprises, pondering new shenanigans and making new friends.  And yes, George, we are going to do something today.  Godspeed.  Thanks for your legacy of contributions and your sense of humor.  Sincerest condolences to his family. 


As a company, RGNext saw George as the “engine behind the curtain” that generated the thoughtful studies and analysis that provided the government leadership with the information needed to make sound decisions.  As individuals, we saw George as the voice in the room that caused everyone else to go silent in order to hear each of his precious words because of the wisdom and experience they projected.   He shall be remembered as a pillar of knowledge and voice of reason.  George will be sorely missed.  
Don McMonagle
RGNext

The first thing I thought of when it comes to George is when he speaks....everyone listens!  Personally, my fondest memory is after a big hug, he always made it a point to tell me how great I'm doing and ask how my kids are doing.  He remembers everything I told him about my son in the previous conversation and wants to know the latest.  I will miss him.

George's ready smile and quick wit made him one of my favorite people to interact with, even if he was convinced for the first six months I worked with him that my name was Karen. 
Once the error had been brought to his attention, he intentionally called me Karen every time he saw me—unless he was upset. Then it was “Sharon, these things just aren’t right. What are you going to do to fix them?” 
My favorite memory of that type of exchange was when the office did not have his favorite creamer in stock. “Sharon, my coffee is just not right. What are you going to do to fix it?” “Uhm, do you want to go to the 9th floor and order a latte or something?” “No, I want you to find the jerks who did this and convince them that I have to have *my* creamer. You can do it. Everybody likes you! You’re not a grumpy old man like me.” 
The next day, the office supply order came in (like always) and sure enough his creamer was in there. “Look, Karen! I told you everyone likes you!”
I will miss you dearly, George.


George had a mind like a steel trap!  He could remember anything and everything down to what shelf on which bookcase in which cage in Bldg 989 at Patrick AFB a particular notebook or file was located!

I'll miss him singing "Sally Sally bo Bally, fe fi fo Fally, Sally" to me!

The Range has lost one of its best ever!

Besides being a national asset to the launch Ranges, George was a steadfast, open book of knowledge, experience, and wisdom.  George had a relaxed way with words and often asked, who is the Daddy Rabbit?  For this, George appreciated people’s roles and responsibilities, and was certain to ensure that all Daddy Rabbits were heard and supported.  The loss of George is akin to the loss of the grandest of Daddy Rabbits.  I remember visiting George at a hospital a few months ago, and the nurse asked who I was…I said his co-worker…the nurse said I must have the wrong George as this humble man is well into retirement years, to which I said no, he’s still working full-time if not more…the nurse then smiled but in a confused kind of way.  George – you can now rest, sir, and thank you for your 70 years of shepherding us little rabbits on the launch Range.
Doug Barnes

OBITUARY

Charles George Thomas

23 August, 1931 – 2 April, 2020

Life Event Center at Florida Memorial Gardens

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