For those who knew Thomas, his passion for food was unmistakable. He loved to cook and loved the joy that food brought to others. His enthusiasm led him to start an online local foodie group where he connected people through their shared love of great meals and new experiences. Eventually, he turned that passion into his own business, Southern Claw, where he proudly served some of the freshest and most flavorful Cajun and Southern cuisine in Central Texas.
Thomas will be remembered as fun-loving, fiercely loyal, and the kind of person who would go out of his way to help anyone. He had a gift for bringing people together. Whether through a home-cooked meal, a gathering with friends, or a simple shared moment around the table, Thomas loved feeding people and creating spaces filled with laughter, good food, and connection.
Above all, Thomas’s greatest joy in life was being a father to his three children: Averie (9), Rylie (7), and Levi (5). They were the center of his world. From sharing laughter at home to exploring museums and parks together, he cherished every moment with them and worked tirelessly to provide them with love, guidance, and encouragement.
Thomas is survived by his mother, Hue Bui; his children; his former wife and in-laws; his siblings; his nephew and nieces; and many dear friends and extended family members who will miss him deeply.
He was preceded in death by his father, Thanh Pham, and his grandparents.
Though his time here was far too short, Thomas’s love will live on in the hearts of his children and at every table where laughter, family, and good food bring people together.
Visitation will be from 3PM to 8PM Tuesday, March 17, with a rosary at 6PM, and 10AM to 8PM Wednesday, March 18, with a rosary at 6PM, all at Lakeview Funeral Home, 12100 E. 13th Street North, Wichita. Funeral Mass will be at 10AM Thursday, March 19, at All Saints Catholic Church, 3205 E. Grand St., Wichita; Inurnment will be at 12PM Friday, March 20, at White Chapel Memorial Gardens, 1806 N. Oliver Street, Wichita.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to a fund established for the education and support of his children.
@amysophamish on Venmo or https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-thomas-and-his-three-kids-in-his-final-days
