John Willard Thomas, Jr.

Mr. Thomas was born in 1927 and was the older son of the late J. Willard and Mavis Burchette Thomas.  He was predeceased by his wife, Tommie Munford; his brother, Perley A. ‘Pat’ Thomas; his sons, Chris (Teresa) and Stuart (Andrea); and his granddaughter, Emma.  He is survived by his wife, Judith; his sons, John, III (Beth), Mat, and Bruce (Cindy) as well as thirteen grandchildren and six great grandchildren along with Judy’s children, Stan (Sharon), Bryan (Terry), Sara, and Jason (Angie) who together have seven children that John also considered as grandchildren. 

After high school, Mr. Thomas entered the U. S. Navy and was in training to be an aircraft mechanic when WWII ended.  He graduated from Virginia Tech in 1949 with a B. S., Manufacturing Engineering degree.

John’s life revolved around his beloved family, leadership, and service.  He began his career at Thomas Built Buses in High Point, NC as an engineer and then moved into sales as a regional sales manager, and was subsequently selected to lead the company’s sales effort.  When he was promoted to President and later to CEO/Chairman, he continued the company’s growth to become the largest US manufacturer of school buses.  He retired from daily duties at the company in 1992.

Mr. Thomas held a considerable number of leadership positions both locally and nationally.  He served both Forest Hills Presbyterian Church (High Point) and First Presbyterian Church of Wilmington as an elder.  He very much loved and was committed to Boy Scouts, both locally and nationally, serving as a council president (Uwharrie) as well as on BSA’s national executive board.  It was on the national level that he headed up Scouting’s High Adventure Camps and International Jamboree committees.  He served as National Commissioner, Scouting’s highest ranking volunteer.  He received Scouting’s highest service award, the Silver Buffalo. However, his greatest pride was knowing he was father and grandfather to eleven Eagle Scouts. 

He loved the outdoors and became involved in training and competing with his retriever dogs, again, locally and then, nationally.  He was recognized for his success in and dedication to the sport by being elected to its Hall of Fame in Grand Junction, TN.  Mr. Thomas became a board member and then president of the NC Coastal Land Trust, a further expression of his love of the outdoors and natural spaces.

He will be missed by his family and many friends.  A celebration of his life ceremony at the First Presbyterian Church of Wilmington will be held on Wednesday, November 1st at 2 p.m.  Visitation with the family will be immediately after the service in the church’s Gilmore Room.  In lieu of flowers, memorials in his name may be directed to: First Presbyterian Church, 125 South 3rd St., Wilmington, NC 28401; Cape Fear Council - BSA, P.O. Box 7156, Wilmington, NC 28406; or North Carolina Coastal Land Trust, 131 Racine Dr – Suite 202, Wilmington, NC 28403, and would be very much appreciated.  Online condolences may be sent to the family through the guestbook link in his name at www.andrewsmortuary.com.