Jack Martin Thomas

When you are larger than life - literally - you learn some things quickly. You have power and responsibility. And you need to disarm people, to let them know that you are not to be feared, you are the life of the party, you are the protector, the ebullience, the laughter, the wicked prankster. Jack Martin Thomas was all of these things, but he was an onion. Everyone who met him knew him immediately, and they all knew a different Jack.

Jack closed his eyes and went to sleep on Thursday night, March 23rd, 2023. Sometime after midnight early Friday morning he went to be with the Lord.

If he had ever patronized your business, he had a friend there. In his own businesses, his customers were his flock, and he took care of them.

He was intensely stubborn.

He loved his family fiercely.

A football playing Marine, he took to his “girl Dad” role as if he were born to it, and it served him well with both his two daughters and his two granddaughters. 

He made up his own words that made us cry with laughter. 

He was a champion hugger.

Born in 1943 in Winston-Salem, he grew up in Boone. There as a child he danced, played with his cousins, and got into all the fun trouble possible. After graduating from Marion Military Institute, he played football at NC State University. He graduated from Appalachian State University where he majored in Business and minored in Math. He wooed his future wife Patricia at ASU (while literally stealing the food from her plate) with promises of beer in a dry county and, more importantly, an extended family full of so much fun and joy it was irresistible to her. He also enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserves.

Jack lived up to his name as a jack of all trades. Not only could he boast of working (and working hard!) at many many different businesses, but was a skilled handyman to boot. He could sell or haggle with the best of them, whether it be a car, a home, a stereo, a finance plan, a piece of furniture or a candy bar.

He had a great eye for 1960’s era plaid pants, so fortunately he was also a talented golfer. Pine Valley Country Club was his second home. He worked as a golf pro for years and played successfully in many tournaments with his wife and family.

His other second home, and second family, was the church choir. Music was always a huge part of his life- whether basking in the hymns he adored or watching “Pitch Perfect” for the hundredth time.

He will be achingly missed by his two sister-cousins Sara Lind Craig and Pat Davis, superhero wife of 55 years Patricia Stiffler Thomas, his two devoted and eye-rolling daughters Holly Thomas Yang and Susan Lynn Thomas, son-in-law Julius Chen Huan Yang, precious granddaughters Journey Nicole Yang and Avalon Marie Yang, family canine children Teyah and Jasper, and chosen brother/best friend Tom Jones.

He was preceded by, and has waiting to receive him: his loving and equally silly parents, Major John H Thomas and Earle Payne Thomas, his aunt and uncle / second parents Pearl Dowling and Horace Dowling, cousins C.B. Craig, Sally Craig, Mike Davis, Kelli Davis Norton, Leah Craig, Frank Payne, and W.T. Payne, and beloved dogs Noodle, Pepper, Punky, Molly (his special girl), and Noodle the Second. Oh, to see the joy on their faces at that reunion. For it is joy.

A celebration of Jack’s life will be held this Friday, March 31st,12:00 noon, at Grace United Methodist Church, 401 Grace St, Wilmington, NC, 28401.

The family would like memorial donations to be sent to The Music Ministry at Grace United Methodist Church.