William Russell Thomas

Mr. William Russell “Russ” Thomas age 87, of Louisville, Kentucky, returned to his Heavenly Father on Tuesday, June 9, 2026. He was born in Bowling Green, Kentucky, to the late Randell E. Thomas and Mary (Morehead) Thomas. Russ retired after 23 years of service with the United States Air Force. His military career started in 1955 in Sampson Air Force Base in Geneva New York and ended on July 31, 1978, at Grissom Air Force Base, Peru Indiana. During his military years he was involved with crypto encoding and decoding, radar squadron, Tech controller, B52-mechanic, flew over 43 combat missions in Vietnam, refueling aircraft over Cambodia and Laos, worked on black boxes, and was a Boom operator until he retired. So, to say the least he was a dedicated airman and was always defending the nation with his integrity. He also retired after 22 years of service as a mechanic at the Sears Auto Center in the Jefferson Mall where I feel quite certain he gave them 110% every day to help others. He enjoyed fishing in his earlier life and traveling with his late wife Margie, especially on their trips they took to Las Vegas, Nevada. Russ was a loving and devoted husband, dad, brother and grandpa. He will be truly missed by all who knew and loved him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his late wife Margaret "Margie" Carol Thomas, daughter in law Vickie Thomas (Ray) and his 4 siblings.

He leaves to cherish his memories his children Raymond “Ray” Thomas, Catherine "Cathy" Gohde, William “Bill” Thomas (Terri), five grandchildren Colton Thomas, Sarah Thomas, Stephanie Gohde, Will Thomas, and Kelly Thomas. Along with a host of other dear family and friends.

Visitation will take place on Monday, June 15, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at (Schoppenhorst Underwood & Brooks Funeral Home 4895 N. Preston Highway at John Harper Freeway). Entombment will be on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at 12 noon at Louisville Memorial Gardens West 4400 Dixie Hwy, Louisville, Kentucky, 40216.