

Family, friends and business associates are mourning the passing of a good friend and quintessential gentlemen, Dave Thomas. Dave "went home" to join his parents Wilma and Andrew Thomas and his brother, Everett, who preceded him in death. He was 76. Dave will be dearly missed by his beloved wife of 42 years, Ilona; children, B.J. and Shane and Carmen and daughter-in-law, Tai; grandchildren Brooke, Trace, Paige, Sabine and George.
Born in the Thomas family's farmhouse in Ohio in 1939, Dave quickly adapted to the "morning 'till night" life of a farm boy and received his High School diploma from a small country school. Dave attended and graduated with a business degree from Ohio University. He graduated with honors and was an active member of the Sigma Chi fraternity.
Lt. Thomas was a dedicated Vietnam veteran, having served for 4 years in the United States Navy onboard the aircraft carrier USS Saratoga. Lt. Thomas held various positions on-ship but his favorite was Disbursing Officer. He left the USA for their 6-month deployments with millions of dollars in (6) safes and paid the 5,000+ crew in cash every (2) weeks.
Dave's 45-year professional career in Sales started overseas in the mid-1960's. As Far-East Sales Manager for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co., Dave lived in Singapore, Hong Kong and Australia and was responsible for a sales force in China, Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Australia, Indonesia and all South Pacific Islands.
Dave met and married his wife, Ilona, while working and living in Australia in 1969. In 1975, Dave was promoted to North East Sales Manager for R.J. Reynolds Foods and moved back to his home state of Ohio to cover all Northeast states. He was then promoted to Southwest Division Sales Manager, headquartered in Texas and has held various sales management positions with Scripto and Pfizer during his long sales career.
After retirement and prior to his long fight against lung disease, Dave's favorite hobbies were clearing vacant land, working for the Garden Ridge Lions Club, working in his yard and taking care of his dogs Brandy, Bandit, Whitney and Winter. Dave was also an active usher at OLPH Catholic Church in Selma for many years and coached his children's soccer teams.
Dave will be remembered for his contagious smile, his charismatic and outgoing nature, his sense of humor and his love for life. He affected every life he touched in a positive way and never met a stranger he didn't know.
His family would like to give special thanks to Dr. Charles Duncan (Pulmonologist) and Dr. Eli Whitney (Cardiologist) and their staff for their excellent care.
Visitation will be Thursday, May 19, 2016 beginning at 6:00 p.m. with a Rosary at 7:00 p.m. at Porter Loring Mortuary North.
Mass of Christian Burial will be Friday, May 20, 2016 at 11:30 a.m. at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church, 16075 N. Evans Road, Selma, TX 78154.
Interment at Holy Cross Cemetery with Military Honors.
Refreshments to follow at The Club at Garden Ridge.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the animal shelter of your choice.
SHARE OBITUARYSHARE
v.1.18.0