David Michael Thomas

David Michael Thomas, 70, passed away peacefully on the morning of January 21, 2025 in Lawton, Oklahoma. David was born in Indianapolis, Indiana to the late Donald E. Thomas and Billie L. Benge on October 6, 1954. From an early age, David was a lover of animals and nature. It was not uncommon for his parents to walk into the bathroom and find a random reptile in the tub that Dave collected on his childhood adventures. He always had a drive and fight from the days of his victory as a state wrestling champ up to his very last breath on this Earth, battling several health conditions with unwavering courage and determination.
He married his sweetheart, Debbie, on November 17, 1973, just 5 days after she turned eighteen and one year after he joined the Army. He was a Veteran who served in Operation Desert Storm – a protector of our country and his family. He was passionate about learning and creating and always dove deep into his interests and hobbies like magic, photography, music, and classic cars just to name a few. He was a true entrepreneur and innovator mentoring several people in their pursuit of shared hobbies. He loved wildlife, especially the birds, squirrels, and random uninvited critters he would feed and capture on film. He was sarcastic, clever, witty, charming, kind, and incredibly talented.
He is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Debbie Kay Thomas, and his daughters Aimie Swartz (Mark Swartz) and Andrea Formica (James Formica), his sister Brenda Harness, his grandson Israel Swartz, and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents Donald Eugene Thomas and Billie Leah Thomas (Benge). The family is planning a celebration of life and will announce those details at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to Grandeur of Grace (a local charity for Veterans https://grandeurofgrace.org ) or a charity of your choice.