David Loren Thomas

David Loren Thomas, age 66, passed away on Friday, December 20, 2024, at Hope Hospice Hulitar Inpatient Center in Providence, Rhode Island. Born in Boston, Massachusetts on September 3, 1958, he was the son of the late Loren M. and Joan M. (Gilmartin) Thomas. 

David was raised in Walpole; the youngest of three children, and the only boy. One of the stories he loved to tell was that of when he was a young boy in the days before advanced car seats, and his sister saw him bouncing around and said, “he’s turning red like a ‘mato”! When he was little, he was a mama’s boy, as best represented by the time he surprised his Mom with a bunch of hand-picked flowers. When asked where he got them, he pointed to the “field” where he found so many, gesturing toward the local cemetery. 

David graduated from Walpole High School in 1977. He was a good-natured troublemaker, always having fun with his friend Mike who he had known since grade school. After leaving school, David joined the Air Force and trained to be an aircraft mechanic, first stationed at Elgin Airforce Base in Florida. 

He relocated to Nevada, and he used his talents to fix stealth fighter jets at Area 51. David’s career as a Staff Sargeant took him and his little family across the country and beyond. He particularly enjoyed his time stationed in Las Vegas, New York, and England. While in the UK, Dave and his wife at the time, Robin, became close friends with a woman named Cheryl, who remained a longtime friend to the family, including stepping in as Mother of the Bride at Stacey’s wedding. Dave retired from the Airforce while living in New Mexico, then moved to Wisconsin where he worked as a mechanic for Rhinelander Airport. After moving back to Massachusetts, David worked for Transportation International Pool in Mansfield, a trucking company where he worked as a mechanic and inspector until his retirement in 2012.

David loved to golf with his NBCO buddies during the week leading up to Memorial Day at Cronin’s Golf Course, where was well known for taking on the persona of Father Dave and blessing the golf balls in a fake Irish accent in the most delightfully inappropriate way he could. He had a spot at the bar at the Red Wing where he would go once a week, and he enjoyed war movies and shows. More than anything, however, he loved spending time with his kids, grandkids, and granddogs. David had a nickname for each of his grandchildren, and he liked singing silly songs to them. During the holidays, he listened to Bing Crosby Christmas music and loved to spend time with the family he loved. 

Loving Father of Michael Thomas and his wife Sarah, of Bradenton, Florida; Christopher Thomas of Laona, Wisconsin; Stephanie Gomes and her husband Chris, of East Providence, Rhode Island; and Stacey Seermon and her husband Steve of Mansfield

Cherished “Gampa” of Isaac, Izzy, Ty, Peyton, Theo, Madison, Henry, and Emma 

Brother of Leslie Gillis and her husband William “Rick” of Walpole, and Kathleen Madge and her husband Randall of Kennebunkport, Maine

Also survived by many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family

Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend David's visitation on Friday, April 4th, 2025, from 4:00 - 7:00 pm in the James H. Delaney & Son Funeral Home, 48 Common Street, Walpole.

A graveside service will be held the following day on Saturday April 5, 2025, at 11:00 am at Terrace Hill Cemetery in South Walpole.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in David's name may be made to HopeHealth Hospice at 1085 North Main Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02904 or by visiting https://www.hopehealthco.org/InMemory