Donald H. Thomas

Humboldt - DONALD HARLAN THOMAS, born March 1, 1926 in White Plains, NY died peacefully on Thursday, December 30, 2010 at the Regional Hospital in Jackson, TN. A veteran of World War II and the Korean War, he spent his last four years at the TN State VA Home in Humboldt, TN. Donald was the son of Harlan A. and Maude A. Thomas. His father was a high school teacher and principal in West Chester County, NY. He met and married his beautiful wife Bettie while he was an Army Air Force Cadet training in Alabama. They were married 60 years until her death in 2005. After the Korean War, he completed his degree in Electrical Engineering at Auburn University. After graduation in 1955, he moved his family to Florida and worked at Cape Canaveral and Patrick Air Force Base on the United States Missile and Space Program. In 1964, Westinghouse Electric hired him to work for them in Baltimore, Md. During the time he worked for Westinghouse, he worked on projects in Iran and Morocco and also at Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland. After 20 years with Westinghouse, he retired and took a consultants position with NASA at Goddard Space Flight Center. He worked on the Shuttle Program and played a major role in the satellites that were launched from the shuttles. After the maiden voyage of the Challenger, he received a flag that had flown on this mission with a letter of thanks from all the Astronauts. After retirement in 1992, he moved to Collierville, TN. He and his wife Bettie enjoyed their retirement to the fullest with many friends and activities. They were active members of the Collierville United Methodist Church. Donald was a man of many talents. He was a sportsman and enjoyed fishing and hunting. He was an athlete and enjoyed archery, scuba diving, golf, skiing, and Karate. He flew his own airplane and even owned a charter service while working in Maryland. He skied well into his 70’s and played golf almost every day up until 2005. He also trained Boy Scout Leaders and helped establish Boy Scout Troops while he lived in Maryland. Donald is predeceased by his beloved wife Bettie and two infant sons. He is survived by his sister, Jeanne Stahre of Melbourne, FL; his daughter, Patricia and her husband, Dr. Robert L. Parrish, Jr. of Germantown, TN; grandsons, Sean Gray of Dallas, TX and Erin Gray of Memphis; granddaughter, Megan Weed of Austin, TX; step grandsons, Blake Parrish of Knoxville, TN, Brent Parrish of Boston, MA, and Brandon Parrish of Germantown, TN; great grandchildren, Connor Gray of Dallas, TX; Nicholas and Vanessa Gray of Chapman, KS and Savannah Gray of Memphis. Visitation will be from 1-2 p.m. on Tuesday, January 4, 2011 at the Collierville Funeral Home on Poplar Ave. in Collierville followed by services at 2 p.m. at the same location. The family requests that any memorials be sent to the National Diabetes Association .