April 22, 2017
James William Thomas (Bill) 
July 26, 1929  April 5, 2017

Bill was a dedicated family man.  He and his bride Armilla (Millie) were married on September 30, 1950 and they had two children, Craig and Carol.  They were married for 62 years until Millie's death on October 11, 2012.  
Bill was a good man, an old school gentleman.  He was a good brother to his sister Linda, a loving husband, father and Grandfather.  He was kind, funny and thoughtful.  I remember him always having some type of joke, some funny, some not.lol, or a witty saying like my memory is goodit is just short.   Or, I have learned from him if you don't like something or want it.just say you are allergic to itno one argues with you on that.
He was sharp as a tack even to the end and very well educated even though he did not go beyond the 12 grade.    
He even found time to be a little league baseball manager for Craig's team in the mid 60's.   
Bill was a dedicated union man with the Sheet Metal Workers International Association for over 50 years.  He severed as an officer with the union in the 70's and 80's as Vice President.  He took his family with him for a few years to PA while working as a Traveling Journeyman and then returned back to Michigan.  
Bill, Mille and Craig endured heartache in 1974 when their only daughter/sister Carol was killed in a motorcycle accident.  
I met their Son, Craig, and we were married in 1977.  We have two children, Kevin James and Brandon Craig.    His son, my husband, Craig passed March 23, 2011, another heartache they had to endure.
A story I remember well is that for a period of time Bill and I worked at the same company, Durr Industries until he retired in 1989.  I work in the office in Payroll and Bill worked on the shop floor with the union.  I was in the shop area one day and Bill was with the union Big shots.  I heard him call my name Dianna, can you come over here for minute  so I walked over to him and he said can I have a kiss I looked at him and saidok....I then see these Big Shots months dropped as in WOW, Bill can get any young girl (I was around 25 years old) to come over and kiss him.  Bill is standing there looking impress with himself until I said I'll see you later Dad!! The big shots all laugh when I blew his cover.
Brandon remembers the story of when Grandpa bought a Camaro when he was around 60 years old and Brandon still laughs when he thinks of it because Grandma said there is NO WAY WE ARE KEEPING THAT CAMARO BILL, TAKE IT BACK!  And so two weeks later Grandpa showed up with another new car.
Bill loves his grandchildren, Kevin and Brandon.  After retiring from the union Bill worked part time at a coin and baseball card shop.  Brandon would sometime go to work with Bill were Bill would teach him how to give change back to customers the old fashion wayto count it out.  
Bill and Millie both travel all over following Kevin and Brandon for all their sport activities.  They would never miss a baseball, soccer, of football game.  Bill followed Kevin from one side to the other, from Canada to Texas for traveling baseball and loved every minute of it.  He sat in the bleachers at one of the worst Ice Bowl game as it became known as for Kevin's football game between Brother Rice and Catholic Central.  The other kids on Kevin or Brandon's sport teams all new who Grandma and Grandpa Thomas were.
Both Millie and Bill were always so surprised and so pleased that both Kevin and Brandon loved to be with thembut after all they were cool grandparents!
Over the last few years Kevin became Bill's go to person.   Bill was always so proud to say this is my grandson.  And everyone they would meet would always be so please to see a Grandson taking such good care of his Grandpa.  
The way Kevin summarized his Grandpa and Grandma was that their love was unconditional.no matter what we knew they loved us! 

Dianna Thomas

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Harry J Will Funeral Homes

James Thomas

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James "Bill" Thomas

26 julio, 1929 – 5 abril, 2017

Harry J Will Funeral Homes

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James "Bill" Thomas

26 julio, 1929 – 5 abril, 2017

Harry J Will Funeral Homes

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