Larry was born September 9, 1933 in Douglas, Arizona to Lawrence Allen and Anna Nora (Lewis) Thomas. He passed away September 18, 2019 in Midwest City, Oklahoma. He spent his childhood in Capitol Hill, Oklahoma. Larry attended Wheeler Middle School and went on to graduate from Capitol Hill High School in 1952. His father and brothers were carpenters by trade and wished for Larry to follow in that tradition as well. He tried his hand at it, but eventually decided it just wasn’t the path for him. He was nicknamed “Jack” by his parents, and “Dike” by his brothers, possibly because he grew to be taller than any of them. By chance one day in downtown Oklahoma City, he came across an Air Force recruiter. After having a conversation with him, Larry signed himself up for 4 years of Air Force duty. He left for basic training in San Antonio, Texas the very next day. After basic training, he was sent to Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi to be trained in radio communications. Larry’s next destination was a 2 year assignment in Japan. Larry gave 20 years of his life to the United States Air Force and served in Italy, Greece, Japan, Vietnam, twice in Alaska, and twice in Texas. After retiring from the military, Larry went to work for and retired from Wilson’s Foods. He later started editing videos at his home. He married Alice May Sade on January 1, 1957 in Lovell, Oklahoma. They had 3 children, Stephen, Karla, also known as Mehurit, and Kari Anna.
Larry is survived by his loving wife, Alice; children, Stephen and wife Patricia, Karla also known as Mehurit, and Kari Anna; grandchildren, Jeremiah Stephen Thomas, Jacob Allen Thomas, Savannah Lee Thomas, Qebhut Qetlah, Ament Qetlah, Sekhet Qetlah, Atum Qetlah, and Daniel Farrar; and great-grandson, Augustine Thomas. He was preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Anna; and brothers, Lawrence Allen, Lewis Welborn, and Loren James.
A funeral service will be held at 10:00A.M., Monday, September 23, 2019 at Dickson Baptist Church, 2000 Spencer Rd., Oklahoma City, OK 73141. Interment will follow at Arlington Memory Gardens with military honors rendered by the United States Air Force.
