Ronda Lee Thomas

Ronda graduated from Grand Canyon High School in 1988. After working several years at Grand Canyon with one of the Airline tour companies, she decided to enlist in the United States Air Force. She graduated from basic training at Lackland AFB in 1994. Following basic, she received further specialized training in the skills required to become a load master. She was among the first group of women allowed to fill this roll in the Air Force, which was previously reserved for men.

First stationed at Dyess AFB in Texas, she flew numerous overseas missions, including peace missions during the Bosnian War and relocating the military personal from the bombed Khobar towers to Tent City in Saudi. She later became a Load Master instructor at Little Rock AFB and her last assignment was as base education and training at Laughlin AFB. While in the Air Force she began taking college courses to pursue a degree in Social Psychology. When not working or going to school she was busy training her dogs Foxy and Dutches. They were both certified as search and rescue dogs and Foxy was a comfort dog which Ronda would take to assisted living centers. Ronda retired from the Air Force as a Staff Sergeant in 2010.

Upon her retirement she returned home to Arizona, where she continued her education and received her Bachelor of Science degree in Social Psychology in 2013 from Park University through Luke AFB.

In her spare time, she began training and competing her dogs Reba Ariba in obedience and Foxy Roxy in agility. She was active in the dog agility community with her papillons over the past 10 years.

She will be greatly missed by her Family and friends.

Ronda was predeceased by her father Ronald Lee Thomas and Grandmother Lou Hanrahan. Survived by her mother Janice Tokarski (Stepfather Wayne Hoesing), her Brother Mark King, her 3 sisters, Julie Lincoln (Don), Tyra Orlando and Leeann Jamison (Roy). Her niece and nephews, Todd Lincoln, Justin Thomas, Katelyn Lincoln, and Luke Jamison. Step Brothers Mark Hoesing (Jaci), Steve Hoesing and their children Kristina, Patricia, Nick, Monika, Ayanah.

Celebration of life service Saturday, November 13th at 10am

Crosstrain Church

21469 N 78th Ave Suite 150, Glendale, AZ 85308

Interment at the National Memorial Cemetery for Military Honors Ceremony Tuesday, November 16th 9am

23029 N Cave Creek Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85024