Ronald Eugene Thomas

Ronald Eugene Thomas died peacefully on August 29, 2006 from stroke complications with supportive and compassionate care provided by his Hospice of the Valley - Friendship Village care givers. Ronald was born in Detroit, Michigan on October 13, 1929. He is preceded in death by his mother Clara Wiess Thomas, his father Glen Harper Thomas and sister Velma. Ron graduated from Madison High School in Royal Oak, Michigan. He attended Wayne State University School of Business studying advertising for 2 years. Ronald served his country as a US Army Corporal in Anchorage, Alaska during the Korean War. He worked as a salesman mainly in the food industry & retired from Laura Scudder. Ron has been an Arizona resident for 45 years. He spent most of those years in Tempe. His other community ties were Tucson, Maryvale, Scottsdale and most recently Tonto Basin. He believed in serving others and was involved with his churches, the Boy Scouts and his various communities. At the Payson Senior Center he was fondly known as Ronald "McDonald". Ron made friends easily and his sense of humor will be missed. "Captain" Ron enjoyed sailing and his passion was instructing "kids of all ages" in the art of sailing. After working part time for pool chemical and printing companies he finally retired from work and settled in at his Milky Way Ranch near Roosevelt Lake. He would live by the motto, "Fish in the morning for food and sail in the afternoon for fun", right up to the stroke, June 29th on board his boat, Spitfire on Roosevelt Lake. Ron is survived by his brother Norman (Linda) of Tennessee; and his sister Diana Boesch of Arizona. Eight children will truly miss their dad, Rhonda (Ed) Montalvo, Terry, Sandie Yoder, Larry (Kibby), Gary (Teri), Linda Hale, Emily Jackson, and Charles. His 12 grandchildren, Jennifer, Orlando, Robert, Veronica, Elliott, Samantha, Westley, Poncho, A.J., Alicia, Myles, and Eyan Blue; and 2 great-grandchildren, Bryce and Cooper Rose know he is in Heaven with Jesus. Funeral Service will be held at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church, 1337 W. 11th St., Tempe, on Sunday, September 3, 2006 at 3 p.m. Burial with full military honors is at National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Ronald's memory to the Lutheran Hour Ministries, 660 Mason Ridge Center, St. Louis, Missouri 63141. Arrangements by Carr Tenney Mortuary. Sign the Guest Book at eastvalleytribune.com
This obituary was originally published in the East Valley Tribune.