Dean Thomas

Miles Dean Thomas, 78, of Deland, FL and formerly of Lynn, MA passed away on February 21, 2023 surrounded by his loving family, after complications from TTP (Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura) which he bravely battled for nearly twenty-five years.

Dean was born in Elizabethtown, Kentucky on July 1, 1944. He is survived by his wife of twenty-nine years, Donna Thomas; his brother Dalph Thomas and sisters Elizabeth Ann Whelan and Betty Jean Hager; his children, Bethann Johns (Eric), Brenda Marasca (David), Brett Thomas, and Brian Thomas (Meredith); his step-children Lance Anderson, Kristine Gallucci (Paul) and Melanie Anderson. He also leaves behind eleven grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents, Elizabeth Agnes Dunn and William Joseph Thomas; his brothers, Marion Thomas, Kenneth Thomas, Vinson Thomas, Warden Thomas, and his sister Wava Goodman.

After graduating high school Dean enlisted into the Navy for four years and was stationed in California and Boston. He served his time as a dental assistant and loved to tell everyone "he fought the fight against tooth decay." While in Boston he met and married his first wife, Liz Boughman, and became the proud father of Bethann, Brenda, Brett, and Brian.

In December of 1993, he married the love of his life, Donna Anderson. Dean was blessed to add three more children to his tribe: Lance, Kristine and Melanie. Dean and Donna enjoyed almost 30 years of marriage, the last 5 of which were spent enjoying their life together in Florida.

Dean had several different jobs throughout his career but retired from a successful twenty-five year career as a manager with Federal Express, where he made many lifelong friends. Dean's passions were golf, travel, and basketball, particularly the Boston Celtics, but the thing he most enjoyed was time with family and friends. He was a man of strong faith and lived his life as a servant of God. He was so proud of his entire family: the one he was born into, the one he built, and the beautiful blended family that stood by his side in his final days. He will be forever missed.