Graeme Thomas

December 9, 1937 - August 11, 2024

D. Graeme Thomas, 86, of Ellisville, Missouri, passed away on August 11th, 2024. This sudden loss is felt deeply by family and friends, who were touched by his love, presence and personality. He will be missed.

Beloved and devoted husband of 64 years to Beth Thomas, together they raised four children, Trevor, Russell, Melinda & Mark, cherished their spouses Rose, Lisa, Tim & Tina and poured abundant measures of hugs & kisses onto all their grandchildren Ria, William, Molly, Emma, Jason (Sierra), Adam, Kara, Nathan, Connor, Anna, Quinn & Devin.

Graeme was born on December 9, 1937, to Mary "Molly" Thomas & Clifton Darby Thomas, in Melbourne Australia. One of five children, he was affectionately known by his siblings and wider Aussie family as "Gray". Not to be taken out by an early bout with rheumatic fever, he was determined to recover and that he did. There were youthful delights to pursue which elicited more than a few chuckles from eldest brother Geoff and younger brother & sisters, Bob, Liz & Jacki. They were as fond of him, as he was of them. He is pre-deceased by Geoff, who passed away on the same date in 2022. He is also warmly remembered by their spouses, Gwenyth, Ibolya & Rob and as favorite Uncle Graeme to his nieces, nephews and their families.

Leaving school at 15, he began his career sweeping the warehouse floors at Drug Houses of Australia (DHA), but was quickly promoted and rose in the ranks. He completed higher education at Melbourne, Macquarie and RMIT Universities.

At 20, Graeme met his wife Beth through a close knit Christian fellowship and in April 1960 they were wed in the country town of Orange, N.S.W. After raising their children in Melbourne and successful years at DHA, Graeme joined Cooper Labs, a move that took him & his young family to Sydney in 1972.

Opportunity beyond Australia's shores beckoned and in August 1979 Graeme said yes to leading a division of CooperVision. While it was tough saying goodbye to the extended Aussie clan, with a persistent faith and perpetual optimism, Graeme led his family to their new home in Los Gatos, California.



For the ensuing forty five years, Graeme's life was marked by career climbs, descents & climbs again, friends & experiences forged from California to Philadelphia and most significantly, three decades of the good life in St Louis. Here great times were shared & enduring relationships built. Graeme considered each person met, each friend made to have inherent value, their story heard and honored. His posture was always outwardly focused & centered on others.

He sought connection and whether it was his first or hundredth encounter, you knew he was keen to know your journey!

His business relationships continued to flourish with terms at Sherwood Medical, various life sciences companies and a final fulfilling career stop at St. Louis University. The role combined Graeme's well-honed people and business skills to meaningfully grow & connect SLU's life sciences research and innovation with high potential startups.

Foundational to Graeme's life, was a deep and sustaining faith in God. Through many years of fellowship with and service to the Kirk of The Hills Presbyterian Church community, he and Beth found abundant joy and a place for their faith to flourish. This community continues to embrace Beth and her family with their love & support, for which we know Graeme would be so grateful. With his hope set on Christ and a future with Him, Graeme is now welcomed home.



Memorial Service:

Kirk of the Hills Presbyterian Church

Saturday Sept. 14, 2024

10am Visitation

11am Service

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to a ministry Graeme supported:

Restore St Louis, Firm Foundation Tutoring Program

https://restorestlouis.org/donations/