George (Bill) Willard Thomas

Obituary for George (Bill) Willard Thomas

It is with a heavy heart to announce the death of my Dad; Bill (George) Thomas. He had struggled with dementia for many years but still was able to keep his sense of humor and love till the end on May, 6th, 2025 at the age of 98. His goal was to get his letter for his 100 Birthday from the President of the United States but couldn't quite make it.

George Willard (Bill) Thomas born 1/26/1927 in York, Pa. Proceeded in death by his parents George Washington Thomas and Ruth Jeanette Lukens Thomas and his sister Doris Sauble.

He is survived by his wife Juanita (Nita) Anne Vinson Thomas of 78 years, Daughter Lynn Thomas Hoffman, son George Willard Thomas Jr. Grandchildren, Faith Calvin (Thom), Jason Nelson, Deborah Thomas, Joseph Thomas and Steve Thomas (Alexis). Great Grandchildren, Caigen Calvin (Clover), Harleigh Calvin Rempfer (TJ), Alexis Clendenen (Mitchell)and Scotlyn Thomas.

George (Bill) graduated from York High and went into the Navy. He was stationed in Adak, AK till the end of the war and then went home to York to marry Juanita (Nita) Vinson 2/6/1948. He started school at Gettysburg College to get his Masters in Chemistry and Physics.

After school they moved to Panama City, Fl. Where he was employed as a civilian physicist for the Navy. He enjoyed sailing his Sailfish, diving while working for the Navy and working with the Sea Explorers. They had Lynn and George and shortly after George's birth he was recruited by a man who became his life long friend Gerry Stewart and moved to Corona, Ca. where he worked at FMSAEG (Fleet Missile Systems and Evaluation Group aka "The Lab") in Norco. There, he invented and patented a camera system to capture missiles in flight through photography. In his spare time, he enjoyed square dancing with the local club, The Missile Twisters, alongside Nita, who skillfully crafted their coordinated partner outfits. In the early 70's, The Lab sold him their small Microfilm Service's bureau in Corona. He took early retirement from the Lab to start this new chapter.

Questioning if his film was going to be Archival he began investigating and was able with his knowledge in chemistry to start testing their customers film samples to determine if they were producing archival quality film. This test called the Methylene Blue Test took off like crazy as many of the Cities, Counties and States along with the smaller and larger Labs wanted to either have him test their film or purchase the chemicals from him. They were so busy he sold the Service Bureau and concentrated on just Quality Control. At the trade shows they attended he became know as "the Microfilm Doctor"

because of his white lab coat and extensive knowledge in Microfilm. With the birth of MicroD International he and Nita were able to travel to most all the states, Canada, Mexico, South America, the Caribbean and Europe giving lectures and demonstrations. He published a comprehensive handbook called The Thomas Handbook of Quality Control to help Lab Tech's better understand the process of maintaining Archival Microfilm.

In the early 1980's Bill and Nita moved the business to Burnsville, MN. to include their daughter Lynn. There they played a pivotal role helping raise Lynn's kids and Grandkids. When the Calvin's moved to Colorado, Bill and Nita moved back to California to Little Rock and then Lancaster to enjoy George, Kathy and their children. They remained there till shortly before Covid stuck and then moved back to Minnesota to stay with Lynn and their grandson Jason.

Bill will be remembered for so many things: his kindness, love of family, generosity, Faith, intelligence, wit and pretty blue eyes; but his craftiness was legendary. Every year there was a new project from candle making, painting, decoupage, Styrofoam assembly, Christmas ornaments, woodworking, wood burning, string art and in the end coloring Christmas cards. Last but not least, my Dad could fix anything with his hot glue gun and duct tape. Have we got stories!

There will be a small gathering of his Children and Grandchildren to Celebrate his life and toast to Dad/Grandpa Bill with a can of Root Beer and send our Love to him in Heaven.