William "Bill" Thomas III

Thomas, William "Bill", III
Passed away at his home in Laguna Beach, California on July 6, 2002. Bill was born in Los Angeles on January 31, 1922, to Winifred Perkins of the pioneering Perkins family of Orange County and academy award winning technical director William Thomas II. He was raised in Orange County and Glendale, graduated from Glendale High School and attended USC, where he was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity. Bill was commissioned in the Marine Corps Air Corps in 1943 flying his beloved Corsair in the Pacific Campaign, receiving the distinguished flying cross with six stars, pacific unit command, Navy Unit Citation, and Asia-Pacific Campaign Medal among others. After the war he married Donna Jean Kresich of Los Angeles, making a permanent home in Laguna Beach. Bill lived and worked in both Laguna Beach and Europe in the photographic/electronics business. He was active in the local community including a term as President of the Laguna Beach Unified School District School Board. Bill is survived by his children Susan Jahraus of Laguna Beach and Robert Thomas of Shoal Point, Australia, son-in-law Joseph R. Jahraus III, and grandchildren, Tracey Lucock of Redhill, Australia, Liam Thomas of Brisbane, Australia and William Jahraus of Laguna Beach. A private ceremony will be held. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be directed to the Leukemia-Lymphoma Society of America, 2333 No. Broadway, Santa Ana, Calif. 92706.