Denzil Dean Thomas

One of eight children, he was born to the late Rev. Arthur and Mrs. Pauline Thomas on November 26, 1937. Denzil joined the United States Army in 1955, serving a majority of his military career in military intelligence, with a tour in Vietnam in 1970. He retired honorably in 1978 after 23 years of service. He met his wife, Karin, on the first of three tours to Germany.

Denzil’s civilian career was as an adjuster/appraiser for insurance companies in the vehicle property insurance area, eventually starting his own business with Karin, Auto Appraisals Plus, which he retired from in 2002.

His work in insurance with all manner of vehicles was a function of him being a car nut. He owned many older cars and worked on them with a passion – such as a 1931 Ford Model A, a 1940’s Ford pickup, and a 1957 Thunderbird. His favorite car, which he took Karin in for drives to the North Carolina mountains that he loved so much was a 2000 BMW M Roadster. He entered car shows and won too many trophies to keep count of.

While stationed in Fort Bragg, North Carolina in the early 1970’s, he was a Scoutmaster for the Boy Scouts of America Troop his son was a part of – encouraging his son, Anthony to achieve the Eagle Scout Rank.

Denzil took great joy in the energy and antics of his curly blond-haired daughter, Pam, as she grew up, and he enjoyed her loving attention later in life.

Denzil was a member of Mountain Creek Baptist Church in Taylors. Prior to moving to Greenville from Columbia, South Carolina, he served as a Deacon at Capital View Baptist Church.

During baseball season, you would find him parked in front of the television cheering on the Atlanta Braves, a team he had followed since the team moved to the south.

He loved to work with his hands and in the yard. His shop in the garage is a collection of antique and modern tools.

Denzil was a man of few words, but offered wisdom in key moments.

He is survived by his beloved wife, Karin Thomas (nee Gerbig), children Anthony Thomas and Pamela LeClair; grandchildren, Andrew LeClair, Alex Thomas, Sarah McNamara, and Noah Pabst; and great-grandchildren, Finn McNamara and Millie Thomas. He was predeceased by his parents, Reverend Arthur Thomas and Pauline Thomas, and sisters, Leeila Fender, Elvena Robinson, and Tony-Ann Souther.

Services for Denzil will be held on Friday, January 9, 2026, at Mackey Funerals and Cremations at Woodlawn Memorial Park, 1 Pine Knoll Drive, Greenville, SC 29609. Visitation will begin at 1:00 PM, with the funeral starting at 2:00 PM. Following the funeral will be the service of committal with Military Honors in the park. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Upstate Warrior Solution.