Can't believe I was not aware of your passing. I trust you are in a better place and will cherish the memories we shared

Joey Joe:  Oh how I miss you but know that you are where you are you are in the arms of a loving God and with our family who were there to greet you.  I'll remember the cruises, the times you squired us around Seattle, and the love you gave us.  I'm giving you a big hug.  Love always, Mom

I never met Joe, but had the opportunity to chat a little with him on Facebook through Art.  We connected in sharing some similar vertigo annoyances, and shared what helped.  In our brief connection, Joe was a caring, sincere person! Knowing Art, I can say Joe was blessed in having a family with hearts of gold!  What a wonderful gift that is!  As a mother, my heart aches for your loss.  As a sibling, my heart aches for you all losing your brother.  And for Art, I cannot even imagine losing a twin.  I am a firm believer in God, and while his works are not always understandable, I truly believe Joe has found happiness and peace.  I hope your memories can bring you all some comfort and peace, my sincere condolences to you all.

The brightest flame burns quickest Joe, and you burned so very bright.  You burn for us all now, and know that you still illuminate all of our lives from above.  I love you so much, Joe.

Joe, how do I even start to write this?  It is so hard to even fathom not having you here, but writing about you in the past tense is more difficult than I could ever imagine.  You were my twin brother, my baby brother. For a while you were my best friend, and always one of my closest compatriots.   It has been a month since you passed, and the longing to see you again only gets more intense.  The knowledge that this really is it, is really starting to sink in, and it feels quite unbearable.  You were my anchor in our family, knowing that even when I felt most exiled, you the reason I never felt lonely in this world.  I knew that no matter what, I always had a place and a life with you.  I only wish you knew the same was true on my side.  I know you knew I loved you in only the way a fellow twin can, you yourself have told me this many times, but I would do anything to reiterate it one more time.  
Being a twin, most of my memories of our early lives include you somehow, or in some way.  I am blessed in this, as I have a lifetime to reflect back on.  Old memories lost to me are now popping up randomly, having been misplaced In my mind for years.  I think my favorite memory of you will always be of when you told me that you were going to have a son.  Being a twin, I always felt that you were an extension of me, and on that day, it was as if I was told I was going to be a father myself.  
I remember as kids, running around, blindly following you at times, sometimes figuratively, and sometimes literally - The latter resulting in adventures like my getting hit by a tow truck.  We had all sorts of scrapes and bruises thru our lives caused by each other, but even to the last day we could laugh about them.  Not many people have the ability to throw me thru things like doors, and then have me be willing to lay down my life for them the next day.  Such was our brotherhood, and I knew it went both ways.
Some of my favorite times in life were sneaking around with you as kids, like we were some sort of expert super spys.  I took the code name â€œPussy Willowâ€ after a scene from my favorite â€œscaryâ€ cartoon at the time, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and you as â€œCrumbcakeâ€, your favorite snack that Mom would put in our lunches.  Together we would go on capers and track Dad at night, mostly only finding him picking his nose.  When Mom made us our Army suits out of Dad's old stuff, our hardcore status was achieved, and we were legit in our spydom, complete with 1911's and awesome lanterns that we would then go on to use in the Cub Scouts.
I remember playing board games with you growing up, and you always wanted to be the racecar in Monopoly, and I would almost always cheat and steal a few 500 dollar bills, and make up rules as we went along.  We created some really oddly warped versions of some games, but most of them escape me at the moment.  I remember doing the same with versions of Freeze Tag.
I remember sharing a great deal of fear with you as a child, with the Night Stalker running wild, and our house being burglarized.  That fear spilling over to when we finally decided to sleep without our nightlight for the first time, and that Santa float the cops came by with every year came up to our street with the PA blaring, â€œCome out, we know you are in thereâ€!  Oh, how we pissed ourselves with fear that night.  Ha, that nightlight was on for months after that.  To this day I still have that fear in me, and it is what I loved tapping into with you when we watched scary movies together.  From out many Zombie movies, to the Friday the 13th flicks, we loved laughing at what scared us most as kids.  I LOVED watching movies with you.  From Rocky 5, Braveheart, Glory, Bad Medicine, Beastmaster, to The Last Star Fighter, we were hooked.  I am so glad I collected all of these movies to watch with you, as I can still revisit these in my life, and remember all the good times and horrible dialog we would fire back at each other all the time.  Some days all we did was communicate thru movie quotes, lol.  It was like our own language.
Of course one cannot fail to recall our afghans mom made for us, and the twisted â€œRock, Paper, Scissorsâ€ game we played with them.  You being red (fire), me being blue (water), and Rhedi being yellow (the sun).  We had so much fun donning those things and running around, me putting your flames out, Rhedi lighting you up again.  I have a hard time thinking that your fire has finally been extinguished, Joe.  I would give anything for Rhedi to ignite you once more.   Funny, thinking of the Sun, I remember when you tried to convince me that our Sun was a planet, and one could walk on it.  I'll never know if you really thought that, or were just messing with me.  Seeing that this was 7th grade, I'll forgive that and pass it off as you messing with me. ?
I remember graduating in 6th grade, and Bob teaching us how to shave with our first razors, and then Dad giving us those old Norelco electrics.  So funny that in the end, we both chose to grow beards.  Growing up we never looked much like twins, but as you got older and fatter, you looked more and more like me.  I took great pride in that, lol.  
Despite being twins, I always thought it funny how we were polar opposites on so many things.  If you were hot, I was cold.  If you were high strung, I was cool and relaxed.  I often told everyone that you were my mirror twin, everything being reversed.  This was further shown even in our older age, where  I grew white in my beard on the left, and you growing it in the right.  You will never know how much that amused me.
I remember you trying to teach me to drive a stick shift in your old green Ford Ranger, with me stalling out almost every 5 or 6 feet.  I'm sure I was damaging your car, but you still let me try.  Giving up, you resigned and chose to be my chauffer a few times, driving me around with Marisa, while you waited for us outside while we ate.  You were very giving in that nature, and it remains a fond memory I share with her even to this day.  I remember going out with you when I had a learner's permit, and I got a red light ticket on Encinitas Blvd while driving Mom's car.  We waited for months waiting for the ticket that never came.  That was hell!  I remember the time we took Ted's Jeep and went off roading thru Torrey Pines' nice green grass, just destroying it.  You were laughing like no tomorrow, cackling even.  So great!  You always let me drive your rental cars, despite me not having a license, and I will never forget your saying when I took the wheel, â€œIf you hit anything, RUNâ€.  You didn't give two cares about any of that, only that we were having fun together.  We went the other way quite a few times when I worked at my first Hampton Inn, and we would steal the van, driving thru the Taco Bell drive thru, then watch HBO the whole night, as I let the phone ring.  There is a certain irony that I was to do one last shift there the day you died, then follow it up with you with Taco Bell.  I wish with the whole of my heart we could have followed thru with that   
I remember you beating the crap out of me at RBI Baseball, the Nintendo game you got for one of our birthdays.  Any time you bested me you would do your little, â€œI am the champion of the wordâ€ dance, set to your own little beatbox you used to do.  I so very wish I had that recorded, that was priceless.  Seeing as you were always competing against me, you sang your victory song A LOT!  ;-)  This would later carry into our late night MarioKart battles as adults.  I loved coming to your place and staying up late at night playing with you.
I remember how proud our family was that you were going to Uncle Art's school, CMA.  I remember going up to visit you once, and it was the day a bank had been bombed in Vallejo.  You guys were on full alert, and everyone was eyeballing me, this long haired guy who clearly didn't belong.  This was super fun in the bathroom, when I found it to be a communal shower, with even more people eyeballing me.  Ha, that was so funny. 
I loved taking trips out to see you, always finding new adventures and trouble to get into.  The Thomas Twins were always out in full force back then.  Even when I came out to Seattle for what turned out to be not so great times, we found a way to plow thru it, and enjoy your city.  I am SO happy you were able to come back to San Diego and be with your family.  It meant so much to me to have you close by.  Even in hard times, I slept well knowing you were close by, and I could get to you quick.  
I think the thing I will miss the most about you is your HUGE heart, your robust laughter, your movie quotes we would fire back at each other, and the â€œbullyingâ€ banter that we would throw around.  I am surrounded by so many people who love me so much, but I feel so alone without you Joe.  I take so much from knowing that I have the burial plot next to you, knowing that no matter what happens on this earth from here on out, I will sleep forever with the kid I came into the world with.  You might be the only person who can make me look forward to my own death.  Hopefully not for a long time, but every day I am closer to hugging my Yo-Yo Bear again.   I love you to the ends of the Earth and back again, Joe Joe.  I will try to live as much as I can for the both of us now.  Please watch over your family, and know that we love you so much.  Until that trumpet sounds, dear brother, we will meet again.  All my love Yo-Yo Bear, Aroo.

Joe,

I will miss your smile and your humor and it was a pleasure working with you. The best times were when we went to the Sounders matches together and sat in what you created, "The North End Supporters" sextion. It is not easy losing a friend but I know that you will be looking down at me when I am in that stadium. May you rest in peace.

Joe, I will always remember our times together. You made it impossible to be mad at you! You were generous, friendly, selfless, compassionate and a lover of life. You cracked me up all the time no matter what we were doing! I remember when you were in the hospital after your accident and I picked your keys up to take care of the condo and cat. When I got to the hospital, you took your keys out of your jeans along with your wallet because you wanted to make sure I had enough cash even though I was coming to take care of you! You were so grateful and sweet. When my daughter was at school during the school shooting, you texted right away and asked if we needed you to come up to help as she was so upset. I wish I would've taken you up on that now as I could have spent more time with you. Anytime I needed to talk, you were there. Always. That's how I'll remember you. As it is still surreal reading everybody's nice memories of you, I can't believe you're gone. Every time I get on Facebook, the message box appears at the bottom with your cute picture and I instantly think you're there and go to type something to you and I remember that you won't be responding and my heart sinks. I love you Joe, you truly are missed and I know if you have any idea how much you are, it would put a huge smile on your face and you would do your, "AAAAWWWWW, how sweet" in that cute voice you do. I don't think you ever knew just how much you stuck with people you met. One of a kind you have always been, in the greatest way possible. You are joining the cool crowd Joe, you and my Mom I'm sure are happy as can be up there as I look forward to the day I can join you. You will always be in my heart Joe.

I met Joe on December 12th 2014 in La Jolla California on a vacation with some friends. I am from Idaho and do not venture that way very often. I was a little intimidated to be in a different state with unknown people. That night we met Joe and he treated us like we had been friends forever. He hugged us all and made us feel as if we were home. We were with Joe the night he passed and I am hoping we all showed him the compassion he showed us. My love and hugs go to his family. He told us how much he loved you all. I know it will be hard since such a loving person was taken away too early in life, but we hope you have a Merry Christmas.

Thinking of Joe.  What a wonderful guy.  My husband and I met him in La Jolla mid November.  We started talking and found out our grandmas knew each other in Luray, KS.  What a wonderfully small world it is!!  May you have peace and enjoy hanging out with our grandmas in heaven...oh how I am sure they love that story! And to Joe's family, although I do not know you...I am thinking about and praying for you all as well!

Joey. As you move on from this place to the next, I know you have found light, I know you have found peace and I know that as we are struggling to let you go you are being met at your destination with open arms and love. As your family was at your memorial today I stood on the shore of a beach by my home, floating flowers for your safe passage. As the salty air swept across my being I breathed it in as deep as I could, I said a prayer and I know you heard it. Your energy will forever be a part of who I am. Thank you for your friendship and all of the memories. Rest in peace until we meet again my friend. Love and light.

In memory of my dear friend Arthur's brother, Joe.  May God welcome you home into His loving arms.

I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I had known Joe as part of my larger circle of friends in high school, and got to know him well when he was my lab partner in a class our senior year. I remember he was very enthusiastic about his post-college plans, telling me with much excitement that he was "going to learn how to park big ships". We had been in touch on and off over the years since high school. My sincere condolences to the Thomas family, and may his soul rest in heavenly peace. God bless you all.

On behalf of all shipmates who served aboard the USS Duluth LPD-6, I would like to convey our condolences and deepest sympathies.  We all shared a common bond aboard the USS Duluth and Joseph will be remembered fondly by many.  To quote John F. Kennedy: "Any man who may be asked in this century, what he did to make his life worthwhile, can respond with a good deal of pride and satisfaction, "I served in the United States Navy""  Fair winds and following seas, shipmate.  Don Rowe, President, USS Duluth Crewmembers Association

My little brother Joe, I am so glad we got to spend time together your last day on earth. You were a proud uncle as you watched the performance of "The Pirates of Grammar Island."  In keeping with the grammar theme, here we go. Noun: brother, uncle. Adjective: loving, caring, happy, funny. Interrogative: How much will we miss you?  Declarative: We will miss you until the end of our days, but we take comfort in knowing you are at peace. Imperative: Rest well in God's loving embrace, Joe. Exclamation:  We love you, Uncle Joe!

Joe was a dear friend of mine from high school who will be missed. He had one of the sweetest hearts I have ever met and I have many fond memories of times we shared. Joe & I met randomly one night in high school when our groups of friends (Torrey Pines & Madison High schools respectively) co-mingled goofing off atop Mt. Soledad. We became fast friends and shared interests in sports and speaking philosophically about anything and everything for hours. We talked a lot about the future, our hopes and dreams. Joe was kind, sensitive, loyal and extremely passionate about the people and things he loved. Since my sister and I were not allowed to drive as far as Del Mar, Joe would drive south everyday after high school and pick us in Claremont (in the red Geo Metro!). We would race the daylight back to Del Mar to get in as much boogie boarding time as possible at the Torrey Pines state beach (close to his home). We were fancy with our slick bottom boards, fins and our cool barrel role moves. We were silly, carefree and fun. Even as friends, we wore each other's Letterman's jackets to our opposing schools, went to school dances together, laughed at the people who thought they were better than others and, at 16 promised each other that we would marry each other at age 30 if we weren't married to other people..... we both agreed 30 was "super old".  Joe and I drifted apart over the years but I will always remember the good times, his smile and of course Joe's signature thumbs up. All my love and support to Art, his twin brother and family.

I met Joe on a cruise to Bermuda a few years ago and he was one of the nicest guys my friends and I had ever met. I didn't know him for very long but he kept in touch over Facebook now and again. I'm so saddened by this loss, but I know heaven has gained something great. My condolences to the family, and everyone affected by this tradgedy.

Joe was a great guy, a great friend! I totally enjoyed working with him on nights at PCT. He will be missed! Praying for you and your family as you all were the greatest most important thing in his life that he ever talked about with me at work. He was a good man! I pray God's amazing love, grace, and peace be poured out upon you.

My heart goes out to Joe's family. No one can prepare for such a loss; it comes like a swift wind and knocks you over. A gentleman with a full laugh and great sense of humor. Comfort lies in knowing you are on your next voyage in a higher place. You will be missed by many and forgotten not ~

When the world lost Joe, they lost a most special and sensitive soul. He felt deeply but also loved and laughed deeply. I was so heartbroken to hear of his passing as I still remember Joe from when we were just kids being silly back in elementary school. So much time had passed but I still felt like he was my friend.  I remember emailing him after he had gone thru a breakup to let him know I had been thru something similar and that you really do come out the other side.   He was so receptive and so thankful and I felt like we had a bond from that point on.  We will miss him forever.

It's with heavy heart that I send my condolences to you, Rhedis, Chuck, Arthur, Rhedis, Bobby and Greg & his family.  A loss here on earth, a reunion with his loved ones in heaven.  My love to you all..Maurita

Our Condolences. Joe passed much to soon. Dan & Jill Rigoli & Family.

So sorry to the Thomas family for your loss - my thoughts and prayers are with you all.
Maureen Moody

I met Joe on a cruise. From the moment I met him I liked him right away. He was so funny and outgoing and made me laugh. I think I hung out with him every single day for the whole seven day cruise. When my piÃ±a colada was empty he  always shared a beer from his "bucket of beer".  Joe, you were the nicest man I have ever met and I remember telling you that if I wasn't already married, I would want to marry you. In fact, I believe I told your mom and dad that too when we all had dinner together. You were a perfect gentleman and we became instant friends. And we've stayed in touch since that cruise back in 2010. I know we talked about all going on a cruise again, and obviously we will never be fortunate enough to do that, but I will never forget you!  When your mom told me that you passed away, I could not believe it. Although I haven't seen you in a long time, it broke my heart and made me cry. Joe Thomas I know you're in heaven and at peace, I know you are!! So now that you are up there in Heaven, continue to be the kind of man you were down here. Make people laugh and spread your kindness because you truly were a really nice man. Thank you for becoming my friend and I will miss seeing all your cute pictures on Facebook with your "thumbs up" smiling face!!! I love you Joe.!!!

Joe, Joe, Joe....When you would get excited, you'd start talking super fast and get animated. It was so fun to watch. This giant smile would come across your face and you lit up the room with your larger than life personality. I'll never forget meeting you during your years at CMA with Tim. You were one of the first mates I became friends with. I could list a hundred times we got together and just laughed and talked about our days. Tim was always the even keel. He kept you grounded when you needed to be. You were so honored to be in our wedding. What young kids we were! We had no clue about life! But we lived it to the fullest and spent it with people we loved, like you, Joe! Even though we didn't spend these last many years together, we always kept in touch and were there to celebrate with you and lift you up when you needed it. Joe, I will always hear your laugh. I will always see your smile. I will always remember that young, handsome, happy young man who loved life and would have laid his down for his brother. I hate that we are remembering you in past tense. My heart is broken for your family. God has assured us all that you are at peace and you are free and perfect once again. Until we meet again, my friend, may you watch over your son, your twin brother, Art, your parents and your family with love and guide us all to God's loving Grace! See you soon brother!

Joe and I recently reconnected when I gave birth to twin girls.  He always was one of the first to "like" or comment on photos of my family.  I've known Joe since elementary school, and I was instantly reminded how sweet and loveable he was, as a child and into adulthood.  I cannot imagine the pain his mother is experiencing, as a mother myself, and I grieve for his twin, as I know how strong and unbreakable that twin bond is.  May Joe rest in peace.

Dear Joe,

You were the twin brother to my first love. I remember you being so friendly, funny, and always in a hurry as you always wanted to soak in life. You wanted to get out in the world and meet new people

Condolences to the Thomas Family for their loss. I remember hanging with Joe, Brad Billingsley, and Elliot Lieberman back in the TPHS days. I wish you all the best through these tough times.  May the memories that you had with Joe last a lifetime.

I will thoroughly miss Joe's smile, laugh and his stories about his passion for cars, tattoos and the travels and journeys in his life.  He was always so very warm, appreciative and kind toward me.  

Once when I was coming back to work from lunch, I saw him on a sidewalk at a local shopping mall.  I got his attention while driving by in my Jeep.  He looked up from his phone with the biggest smile and practically got up on his tip toes with a big wave to me like a little kid.  He looked genuinely excited to see me like I was an old friend!  

Then when my Jeep was robbed of its spare tire, he was quick to give me helpful advise about replacing it and recommendations for locks to securing it.   He checked in with me regularly to see how it was coming along.

I will remember Joe for always making me smile and laugh when I see him.  God Bless.

Thank you Joe for all the great memories. You will forever live on in the hearts and minds of your friends and family.

Fair winds and following seas my friend.

My youngest Brother Joe will be truly missed..one who shared a caring heart, a huge smile and opened his arms to others and was the first to lend an helping hand...but now may he lay restful in Gods hands as he looks down on us. Joe my youngest brother always showed love for those around him and always excited to be part of the action..you will be missed and remembered dearly my brother.  If for only I could have saved you from your struggles...but know that I love you deeply bro.  You will be missed. 

Bob Neal

 Sugar in the Sea:
 
And they too were lifted up
As the promise always said

And the labels that belonged
Are laid to rest and gone

And what happened in the glistening
Was the gentle sweet relief

Now brilliant tiny stars
On the gentle midnight reef

And thoughts and remembrances
Like fire all a glow

Now imprints for our hearts to hold
Of them that had to go

No solitude or singleness
No searching for the calm

No tears and labors emptiness
No hatred to disarm

Desire and all restlessness
Now sugar in the sea

And so, my friend, we wait behind
Till we can be so free

Life is like sea-water; it never gets quite sweet until it is drawn up into heaven.

Joe, you will be missed every day.

Loving memories to those you have left behind.

During this time of sorrow, may the gentle presence of friends and the caring love of family help to comfort you. 

With much love and heartfelt sympathy,

OBITUARIO

Joseph Charles Thomas

26 noviembre, 1977 – 13 diciembre, 2014

El Camino Memorial - Sorrento Valley & Memorial Park

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