Captain Richard E. Thomas

Captain Richard E. (Dick) Thomas, 78 of Overland Park, Kansas passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on September 4, 2010, at St. Luke’s Hospital. Dick was born on the 4th of July 1932 in Tulsa, OK. He was a graduate of Webster High School and attended Oklahoma A&M where he was a member of Phi Kappa Tau before being inducted into the U.S. Navy. After an Honorable Discharge he graduated from Spartan School of Aeronautics and began his flying career by joining TWA in 1955 as a Flight Engineer on the Constellation. He later became a 1st Officer on the 727 before earning his Captains Wings to fly the DC9. He attended flight simulator training in London, England to become Captain of the 767 that he flew internationally until his retirement on August 29, 1990. He was a member of the Airline Pilots Association as well as the Civil Air Patrol, Lake of the Ozarks Yachting Association, and Coast Guard Auxiliary. He served as a member of the Architectural Control Committee for Four Seasons and later as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Village of Four Seasons and was member of QB.

Dick was joined in marriage to Patricia May Keogh on September 27, 1953 in Lake Mary, FL. They gave birth to one daughter and enjoyed 39 years of marriage before her passing on March 18, 1992.

In 1993 he met his loving wife of 16 years Patricia F. (Bachofer) Thomas. They were joined in marriage on June 25, 1994.

He leaves his loving wife Patricia F. Thomas of the Home, one daughter Lynn Thomas of Lake Ozark, MO, four step children Laura Davis, Pat Bachofer, JB Bachofer and Don Bachofer all of Kansas City, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

The family wishes to thank the Doctors, Nurses and staff of St. Luke’s Medical Intensive Care Unit for their gentle care, compassion and kindness to Dick and his entire family.

Kansas City Memorial services will be held Saturday September 11, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. at McGilley State Line Chapel at 12301 State Line Road with visitation afterwards.

A celebration of Dick’s life will be held in Lake Ozark, Missouri at Ruthie D’s Restaurant on September 18, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. located on the corner of Horseshoe Bend Parkway and Bittersweet.