David Ormonde "Dave" Thomas

David Ormonde Thomas, 94 of Sparta, Tennessee passed from this life on Friday, January 12, 2024, at Life Care Center of Sparta in Sparta, Tennessee.
Dave was born Sunday, March 24, 1929, in Pensacola, Florida, he was the son of the late John Douglas and Sybil Rowena (Addenbrooke) Thomas.
Dave graduated from Southwestern at Memphis which is now Rhodes College. He started with General Outdoor Advertising in 1951, he later became the Sales Manager at WHBQ in Memphis, he oversaw the start and was the general manager of a new easy listening format WEZI FM, moved to Nashville to be the general manager of WZEZ FM, moved to Cookeville to be the general manager of WGSQ FM which is the Country Giant, and then became a regional manager of Clear Channel Broadcasting and retired in 2004. He was the past President of the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters in 1980, earned Broadcaster of the Year in 1988 from the Tennessee Association of Broadcasters, and was a past president of the Cookeville Chamber of Commerce in 1999 - 2000,
He married Mary Elizabeth Hickman on June 3, 1955. He played in the Senior Tour Pro-Am in 1980 in Charlotte, North Carolina, and played at Augusta National Golf Course in 1993 after the Masters was played the day before. He enjoyed raising money for the United Way and Alzheimer's Research through the memory walk. As a younger man, he enjoyed golfing and fishing in the Gulf of Mexico. Dave would often say that he lived a blessed life with good fortune and many friends. Although we are sad to lose him, we take comfort in knowing that he has been reunited with his beloved family.
He was very active at First United Methodist Church, attended the Sunday morning Backsliders Class and the Wednesday AM Faith Group. He enjoyed going out with the Dipsy Doodle Gang on Friday mornings for breakfast.
Dave is survived by, Daughter, Rebecca Vanelli and her husband, Robert; Son, David Thomas, Jr and his wife, Irena; Grandson, Joshua Vanelli and his wife, Haley; 3 Great-Grandchildren; A host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and special friends.
In addition to his parents, Dave was preceded in death by his wife of 59 years, Mary Elizabeth (Hickman) Thomas; 2 Brothers, Peter and John Thomas; and 2 Sisters-In-Law, Helen and Stella Thomas.
Funeral Service will be held Thursday, January 25, 2024, at 12:00 pm from the chapel of Crest Lawn Funeral Home with Dr. Kevin Conrad officiating. Interment will follow in the Crest Lawn Memorial Cemetery.
Visitation with the family will be held Thursday, January 25, 2024, from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm at Crest Lawn Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimers of Tennessee Alzheimer's Tennessee, Inc. Cumberlands Office
390 South Lowe Avenue, Suite I
Cookeville, Tennessee, 38501
To sign the online guestbook and send the family a message please visit www.crestlawnmemorial.com
Arrangements entrusted to Crest Lawn Funeral Home.